52 CHASE OF THE WILD RED DEER 



and this subtiltie doth nature endow him with, y^ he 

 knoweth his breath and his feete to give him greater 

 sent unto y^ houndes tha al the rest of his 

 bodie. And therefore at such a time he wil abide 

 ye horseme to ride ful upo him, before he will 

 be reared.' 



1 have known an old stag during one chase turn 

 out three different deer, and lie down in their beds 

 or lairs. On each occasion the hounds were stopped, 

 brought back, and laid on again. At length, being 

 unable, after beating the covert, to find another 

 deer to do duty for him, our stag broke, and 

 after a good run foiled his pursuers by sinking 

 himself in a deep pool, and allowing the hounds 

 to pass him. 



Nor is the service above mentioned the only one 

 which the master hart compels the young deer to 

 perform. As the rutting season comes on, he 

 permits and apparently induces his lighter limbed 

 companions to take upon themselves the task of 

 bringino- within his reach the hinds which are to 



o o 



have the honour of forming his harem. Waiting 

 by the side of some favourite stream, or soiling pool, 

 to which he knows the hinds, wearied and heated by 

 the incessant but fruitless attentions of the young 

 gallants, will resort, the old sultan lies in wait till his 



