CHASE OF THE WILD RED DEER 75 



more than one promising juvenile of the pack bite 

 the dust. The wound caused by the deer's horn 

 was beheved to be mortal, and the ' heads of deere 

 are venomous and most perillous at rutting time.'* 

 The old proverb — 



'If thou be hurt with hart, it bruigs thee to thy bier; 

 But barber's hand will bore's hurt heale, thereof thou 

 needs't not feare,' 



is well known, and from the great strength of the 

 animal, and the jagged nature of the wound inflicted, 

 no doubt considerable danger is to be apprehended 

 from such attacks. 



Sad retribution was inflicted by a deer some 

 years ago for an unsportsmanlike act, committed 

 no doubt thoughtlessly and from want of considera- 

 tion, by the then master of the staghounds. A 

 very old and well-known deer had, throughout 

 many a stag-hunting season, evaded the vigilance 

 of the harbourer in the Dulverton country, and had 

 so artfully concealed himself, that he was never 

 found by the hounds. In vain was he sought for; 

 and long after the autumn hind-hunting was over, 

 and when the hounds were in kennel for the winter, 

 intelligence was brought to the master that the stag- 

 was in H addon. The hospitable hall was full of 



* ' Art of Venerie,' p. 1 24. 



