Militant Scropc 421 



their pointed and widespreading antlers, ranging over 

 this vast tract, free as the winds of heaven, I think 

 you will agree with me that there does not exist a 

 more splendid or beautiful animal ; for, whether he 

 is picking his scanty food on the mountain tops, or 

 wandering in solitude through the birch groves, or 

 cooling himself in the streams, he gives grace, character, 

 and unity to everything around him. How you feel 

 I know not, but when I first trod these glorious hills, 

 and breathed this pure air, I almost seemed to be 

 entering upon a new state of existence. I felt an 

 ardour and a sense of freedom that made me look 

 back with something like contempt upon the tame and 

 hedgebound country of the south. ... In the pursuit 

 the stag's motions are so noble, and his reasoning so 

 acute, that believe me, I had rather follow one hart 

 from morning till night, with the expectation of getting 

 a shot (in which I might be probably defeated) than 

 have the best day's sport with moor-fowl that the hills 

 could afford me. All your powers of body and mind 

 are called into action, and if they are not properly 

 exercised, the clever creature will inevitably defeat 

 you : it is quite an affair of generalship ; and if you 

 have any thoughts of the army, I would advise you 

 to scan all our motions, that you may gain a knowledge 

 of ground and skirmishing. You will find that almost 

 every step we shall take has a meaning in it ; we shall 

 creep along crafty paths, between clefts and recesses, 

 and make rapid and continuous runs, according to the 

 various motions of the quarry ; so that when the deer 

 are afoot, the interest and excitement will never flag 



