158 CHASE OF THE WILD RED DEER 



has enabled him partially to regain his wind. His 

 pursuers are not to be baffled, and their speed now 

 exceeds his. He is unable again to face the open, 

 runs feebly and painfully along the beaten paths, 

 and, turning through the woods towards the sea, he 

 reaches the edge of the cliff, just above the boat- 

 house and beach of Glenthorne. His foes are close 

 behind. He gives one wild and hurried look of 

 fear, and dares the desperate leap. It is done. He 

 has jumped from a height of at least thirty feet 

 on to the shore, and in the next moment is floating 

 in the salt sea waves. Fortunately one or two 

 sportsmen on the beach keep back the eager hounds, 

 or some of the best of the pack would in all proba- 

 bility have been sacrificed, or at least maimed, in 

 the attempt to follow their quarry in his deed of 

 daring. A few minutes suffice to man a boat, and 

 put a rope round the horns of the deer. The 

 victim is dragged in triumph to the beach, the 

 knife is at his throat, and amid the baying of the 

 pack, and the loud whoo'-whoops of the crowd, 

 the noble and gallant animal yields up his life. 

 ' Tyro,' who has distinguished himself on this his 

 first opportunity of witnessing a stag-hunt, and who 

 has gone well and boldly from find to finish, receives 

 from an impromptu godfather the mark of the blood 



