VIRGINIAN DEER. 155 



Mr. Eustis, jumping up and contemplating the work 

 of our hands. Four stags lay bleeding on the green 

 sward of the clearing. The fifth shot had not been 

 so successful as the others. I was the criminal in 

 this case, and I must admit that my excitement had 

 somewhat paralysed me. I had hit the stag in the 

 left thigh instead of upon the neck, and the creature 

 had made off as fast as his three legs could carry 

 him, with Pat's hounds close to his track, all belling 

 and giving tongue splendidly. We stood for a 

 moment looking at our four victims — two stags, 

 a doe and a fawn — and then giving Pat due charge 

 to disembowel the game and hang it up by the 

 branches, so as to be out of reach of the beasts 

 of prey, Mr. Eustis and myself followed up the 

 traces of the dogs. Pursuing them closely through 

 the cover, it soon became evident to us that the 

 ■wounded animal was seeking its way towards the 

 lake, and presently we perceived the reflection of the 

 Avater before us. Here the stag was to be brought 

 to bay, and we should have the pleasure of seeing 

 this spectacle take place in the water. The stag 

 was standing half-immersed in the water and fought 

 the dogs very feebly. It was evidently all over with 

 him, and in a short time he succumbed. AVe rushed 

 up and dragged him from the water, and then I had 

 leisure to examine and admire the handsomest deer 

 I ever saw in my life. His horns were perfect 

 in their regularity, and of a beautiful grain ; his 



