264 WATCHING FOR A STAG. 



numerous, and the beds in the long grass and brackens looked 

 as though the deer had but recently risen from them. As 

 we had, earlier in the day, heard a stag bellowing far down 

 in the neighbouring forest, we determined to watch the glade 

 from among the long brackens on the outskirts of the cover, 

 in hopes of his taking an airing there in the evening. 



The tall black pines were casting their long -pointed sha- 

 dows over the glade as the sun sank slowly behind them. 

 Still and silent we sat there, keeping vigilant watch, and 

 intently listening for the note of a stag. At last comes the 

 wild and welcome music floating faintly up through the 

 forest. Louder and more harsh grows each repetition of the 

 strain as it draws nearer and nearer, until there is no doubt 

 of its being the animal's intention to visit the glade. Pres- 

 ently a hind comes tripping warily from out the wood. She 

 is almost immediately followed by several others, until at 

 last forth stalks a mighty stag wearing a splendid crown of 

 horn. The hinds soon begin listlessly cropping the grass. 

 They are jealously waited upon by their lord, who, with 

 swelling throat and bristling neck, continues to bellow forth, 

 at intervals, his love-song to his harem, his appetite being 

 apparently much affected by his amours. Although com- 

 paratively close, he is much too far from our present position 

 to risk a shot at him whilst there is a possibility of getting 

 nearer. How my heart throbs between hope of a chance and 

 fear lest I may lose it, as we worm ourselves along through 

 the brackens towards the wood, and, on gaining it, creep 

 stealthily on among the bushes towards our noble quarry ! 

 There are some who may say that an old sportsman should 

 never get excited. To put it plainly, this is what is vulgarly 

 called "gammon," or more politely, contrary to human 

 nature. When the pulses cease to quicken' at the prospect 

 of bringing down a grand beast, slaying him in cold blood 

 can no longer be called sport. The keener the sportsman the 

 more intense his excitement, although experience may have 



