WILD LIFE IN A SOUTHERN COUNTY. 261 



presently it divides into two, and then the fork pur- 

 sued again branches. Hush ! what is that clatter- 

 ing ? It sounds in several directions, but nothing is 

 visible. 



Then a sharp turn of the drive opens on a long, 

 narrow, grassy valley, which is crowded with deer. 

 Parties of thirty or forty are grazing ; and yonder, 

 farther away by themselves, there must be nearly a 

 hundred fawns. Standing behind a tree, it is a pleasant 

 sight to watch them ; but after a while comes back 

 the thought, dismissed contemptuously long since the 

 afternoon is advancing, and, is it possible to be lost ? 

 The truth is we are lost for the time. 



It is impossible to retrace one's footsteps, the paths 

 and drives are so intricate, and cross and branch so 

 frequently. There are no landmarks. Perhaps from 

 the rising ground across the valley a view may be 

 obtained. On emerging into the open, the whole 

 herd of deer and fawns move slowly into the forest 

 and disappear. From the hill there is nothing visible 

 but trees. If a tree be climbed to get a lookout, there 

 is still nothing but trees. Following a green drive as 

 a forlorn hope, there comes again the rattling as of 

 clubs and spears, and strange, grunting sounds. It is 

 the bucks fighting ; and they are not altogether safe 

 to approach. But time is going on ; unless we can 

 soon discover the way, we may have to remain till 

 the tawny wood-owls flit round the trees. 



There comes the tinkle-tinkle of a bell : a search 

 shows two or three cows, one of which, after the 



