152 CHASE OF THE WILD RED DEER 



swymming or lying in the water ; the two huntes- 

 men which shall be on each side of the ryver 

 shall beate with their houndes each of them upon 

 his side, and far enough from the bankes. For 

 they shall have better sent xx or xxx paces off 

 than they shall have at the verie side or banke 

 of the ryver. And the reason is, that when the 

 hart commeth out of the water he is al wet and 

 moyled with water, which poureth downe his legs 

 in such abundance, that it drownes the slot or view. 

 But commonly he rouseth and shaketh the water 

 off him at his coming out thereof, so that by that 

 time he have gone xx or xxx paces the slot is 

 better and the houndes shall sent him much better. 

 Neverthelesse the huntesmen themselves should 

 kepe alwayes neare to the ryver : for sometimes 

 the hart will lye under the water all but his very 

 nose, as I have before rehearsed ; or may percase 

 lye in some bed of bulrushes, or in some tuft of 

 sallowes, so that they might leave him behind 

 them : and then assone as they were past, he 

 might goe counter backe againe the same way 

 he came. For commonly a harte hath that craftie 

 pollicie to suffer the houndes to overshoot him, 

 and the huntesmen to passe by him. And assone 

 as they be past, he will steale back and go counter 



