324 FACT AGATXST FICTIO:?^. 



one deer's foot from another, similar scents for 

 chase as they are ; and is more curious than that of 

 ahiiost any dog, who can trace his master's footstep 

 through crowds of other people's. 



There is another fact as regards the doubt as 

 to whence, or through what means, scent emanates 

 and exists, as narrated of my retriever following 

 the foot of a man who had stolen a dead deer 

 from where I had left it in the New Forest, as 

 described in my ' Reminiscences of a Huntsman,' 

 and again referred to in the present work. The 

 entire fact of the matter was so extraordinary, 

 that I am almost tempted to tell it again ; to cut 

 it short, however, it is needful to remember that 

 the retriever had never hunted a deer nor the 

 trace of a man before, but on missing the venison 

 from Avliere 1 had left it, the dog became aware 

 of my loss and of my wish to recover it. He 

 at once set to work, and by a look invited me 

 to follow him. He then led me a long way 

 over the forest, till he came to the railway. At 

 the fence of the line he came to a check, and looked 

 at me in some doubt what he had better do. 



He then put his nose again to the ground, 

 and led off down the outside of the line towards 



