86 THE RED DEER OF EXMOOR. 



It is wonderful what a long way a deer will go down 

 the water without leaving a trace of scent, if there is 

 a strong stream running ; so if there is good ground 

 for supposing the deer to have gone down, it is never 

 safe to leave off casting till some obstacle, such as 

 poles across the stream, is reached, which will either 

 cause the deer to land or is likely to carry a scent if 

 he has gone over. The old hounds get very clever at 

 water work, and they will swim along by a pole, 

 trying for scent all the way. It is related of old 

 Sailor, in Lord Ebrington's mastership, that he 

 walked out along a pole to wind a splash on it, gave 

 tongue loudly, and then fell souse into the river. 



Much can be learned from splashes, for a splash 

 on a stone may tell whether the deer has passed. 

 In casting in the water the whip, or a trusty helper, 

 should gallop on, watching the stream carefully all 

 the way, to try for a view or to note other signs. 

 He will notice splashes on stones before any fresh 

 ones can be made by hounds. He may notice fish 

 rising steadily in a flat pool, from which he may safely 

 infer the stag has not gone through it very recently. 

 A heron may be standing fishing — a fairly sure sign, 

 but not absolutely to be relied on, that the deer has 

 not gone there^ — -wild duck quietly swimming on the 

 stream is a much surer sign. With luck he may 

 come upon the stag himself, or the wet splashes on 

 the bank where he has shaken himself on quitting the 

 water. 



It is doubtful whether a hunted stag which has been 



