CHASE OF THE WILD RED DEER 107 



grass is the only mark that meets the eye of the 

 harbourer ; but the adept in woodcraft can. I believe, 

 distinguish, with a considerable approach to accuracy, 

 between the traces thus left by a stag and those of a 

 hind or young male deer. Deer, especially old 

 stags, frequendy remain in covert for several days 

 and nights together, browsing and feeding on the 

 leaves of trees and herbage in the woods. The 

 chance of sport when the harbourer can bring no 

 reliable information, is, of course, more precarious 

 than when the locale of the deer has been ascer- 

 tained ; still, I have frequently known a good stag 

 found in a wood which has been carefully watched 

 by the harbourer, who has nevertheless been wholly 

 unable to satisfy himself that a stag was making it 

 his abode. I leave the reader to judge how welcome 

 the first challenge of the tufters is under such cir- 

 cumstances, and what excitement prevails when a 

 good and reliable ' view-halloo ' proclaims the fact 

 that the antlered monarch is afoot, and clearing the 

 copse to seek safety in the open. 



On the general qualifications of a huntsman, I do 

 not propose to enlarge. I may say, however, that 

 he who aspires to hunt a pack of staghounds should 

 possess in no ordinary degree, courage, skill, 

 activity, keen observation, and untiring patience, for 



