STAG-HUNTING. 743 



closed, and a stag and hunting tiger put into it. The stag 

 made such a resolute defence, that the tiger abandoned the 

 attack. On a lawn a space was fenced with very strong 

 toiling, fifteen feet high, into which an old stag was turned, 

 and shortly after the tiger was led in, hood-winked, by two 

 blacks who had the care of him, and set at liberty, after the co- 

 vering was removed from his eyes. The instant he saw the deer 

 he crouched down on his belly, and, creeping like a domestic 

 cat at a mouse, watched an opportunity of safely seizing his 

 prey. The stag, however, warily turned as the tiger turned, 

 and the antagonist still found himself opposed by his formid- 

 able brow antlers. In vain the tiger attempted to turn his 

 flanks; the stag displayed so much generalship: and this 

 cautious warfare lasted until it became tedious, when his royal 

 highness inquired, if by irritating the tiger the catastrophe of 

 the combat might be hastened ; he was told it might be dan- 

 gerous, but it was desired to be done. The keepers went to the 

 tiger, and obeyed the orders of the duke, when immediately, 

 instead of attacking the deer, with a furious bound he sprang 

 at and cleared the toiling that enclosed him. It may be 

 well conceived the consternation he spread among the nu- 

 merous spectators outside ; but instead of meddling with any 

 of them, he hastily crossed the road and rushed into the oppo- 

 site wood, where a herd of fallow-deer happened to be 

 feeding, and instantly fastened on the haunch of one of 

 them, and brought the animal to the ground. His keepers, 

 to whom he was perfectly familiarised, for some time hesi- 

 tated to go near him ; at length they ventured, cut the 

 throat of the deer, and separating the haunch he had seized, 

 which he never left from his hold a moment, hood-winked, 

 and led him awav with it in his mouth. 



