CHASE OF THE WILD RED DEER 157 



Their endeavours to dislodge the stag from his 

 stronghold by shouts and stones are successful, and, 

 dashing through the water, he reaches the cliffs, 

 gains a craggy path leading along them, and 

 stretches away above Glenthorn House towards 

 Yeanworthy. But it is evident his race is run. 

 The heavy gallop, the faltering stride, and the 

 lowered head, proclaim his strength is failing/^ 

 The check has increased his stiffness, though it 



* ' For a huntsman may easily know when a harte is spent in deede, 

 and when he beginneth to sinke and will not long holde up, by divers 

 tokens. First, if he neyther regarde, heare nor see any man or any- 

 thing before him when the houndes runne him : or if he beare his 

 heade lowe, putting his nose downe to the grounde, and reele or 

 folter with his legges, shewing how feeble he is in deede ; or if he 

 espie a man before him, he rayseth up his heade, and maketh greate 

 boundes, and leapes on high as though he were lustie and freshe (as I 

 have sayde heretofore) ; but such friskes will not last long, for when 

 he is a little past by, he will stretche out his necke agayne and holde 

 downe his head, and will reel and wallow as before sayde. Or else 

 likewise you may know when a deare is spent, if his mouth and throte 

 be blacke and drie, without any froth or fome upon it, and his tongue 

 hanging out ; likewise by his slot or view when you finde it, for often- 

 times he will close his clawes together as if he went at leysure, and 

 straight way agayne will open them and stray them w\de, making 

 great glydings, and hitting his dewclawes upon the grounde, or his 

 shanke bones sometimes, and will commonly follow the beaten pathes 

 and wayes, and never double nor crosse but verie little. And if he 

 come to a hedge or a dytch, he will go all alongst to seeke some 

 braeke or beaten leape, because he hath not force to leape it roundly 

 of himselfe. By all these tokens you may know when a deare is spent 

 and ready to fall.' — Ari of Venerie, p. 122. 



