RIDING AT STAG-HOUNDS. 213 



line of hounds. If you give way to it, let the whole 

 pack be at least two or three hundred yards in front, 

 and beware, even then, of tail hounds coming up to join 

 their comrades. 



Be careful also, never to jump a fence in your stride, 

 till you see the pack well into the next field. A deer is 

 very apt to drop lightly over a wall or upright hedge 

 just high enough to conceal it, and then turn short at a 

 right angle under this convenient screen. It would be 

 painful to realise your feelings, poised in air over eight 

 or ten couple of priceless hounds, with a chorus of 

 remonstrances storming in the rear ! It is no use pro- 

 testing you " Didn't touch them," you " Didn't mean it," 

 you "Never knew they were there." Better ride dog- 

 gedly on, over the largest places you can find, and 

 apologise humbly to everybody at the first check. 



When a fox goes down to water he means crossing, 

 not so the deer. If at all tired, or heated, it may stay 

 there for an hour. On such occasions, therefore, you 

 can take a pull at your horse and your flask too if you 

 like, while you look for the best way to the other side. 

 When induced to leave it, however, the animal seems 

 usually so refreshed by its bath, as to travel a long 

 distance, and on this, as on many other occasions 

 in stag-hunting, the run seems only beginning, when 



