OF THE HARBOURER. 59 



noting up what other deer have gone in, and whether 

 the stag has lain down, or has simply gone through. 

 In the latter case he must pick up the slot and track 

 him on to another covert, then go round that and 

 " make it good," and so on till he has fairly 

 harboured him. 



If the woods are large he may have very cautiously 

 to make good a ride in the covert, so as to know 

 which side the stag is Iving, and whether he has 

 other deer lying near him or not. 



Having thus harboured his stag, he can return to 

 the farm with the satisfaction of feeling that most of 

 his work is done, get some breakfast — and pretty 

 badly he will want it — saddle up, and ride off to the 

 meet to make his report. It is simple enough if the 

 ground is in good condition and only one stag is in 

 the wood, and he goes to bed at once, but, in un- 

 favourable circumstances, it entails an amount of 

 walking — very hard and heavy walking too — which 

 no one who has not tried it would believe. In the 

 ■early part of October it is always well, particularly 

 when harbouring an open heather, for two to go 

 together so that one may lie and watch to see the 

 •deer does not move, for they are terribly restless in 

 October, while the other goes to the meet. 



When deer are sought on the open forest, where 

 there is no covert and slotting is impossible in the 

 heather and long grass, reliance has to be placed 

 entirely on eyesight and keeping watch. On such 

 •occasions fog is the harbourer's worst enemy, and 



