31G REMINISCENCES OF A HUNTSMAN. 



quaintcd with every beautiful proficiency in woodcraft, 

 to have such a man as this in a wide wild forest, who 

 has known each deer since they fell at fawning time, 

 saved a vast deal of trouble ; and moreover, from his 

 previous knowledge of the deer, he could tell me by a 

 o-lance only at their head which was the best buck. 

 He is in the prime of life, a first-rate stalker, and pos- 

 sessed of indomitable resolution, as the combat with a 

 deer-stealer twice his size, as before narrated, proves ; 

 and if in these melancholy changes and destruction of 

 the royal forests he should not be employed by the 

 Crown, I could strongly recommend him to take charge 

 of any private forest or park of deer. HoUoway, who 

 was keeper over Burley Walk, was an exceedingly good 

 and superior man, and nothing pleased me more than 

 his promotion to his present position ; for, while over- 

 looking the woodmen, &c. and passing their accounts, 

 I think him so thoroughly capable, as to be fit for even 

 further promotion. In these days of change, now that 

 he is no longer a keeper, I know not what to call him. 

 I only know that he is certainly not " Bow Bearer," 

 whatever his other duties may be. He was with me 

 one afternoon when I went for a buck on Burley 

 Lawn. On approaching some thorns we could see 

 three pretty good deer at feed, and, crawling cautiously 

 forward, we gained a clump of thorns by the side of 

 the little stream whence we could have a good view of 

 them at about a hundred yards' distance. There was 

 not much to choose between the three; but we thought 

 the deer on the left the best, and resolved to have 

 him. They fed towards us in a position not offering 

 a fair mark ; as in feeding the head was in a line with 

 the body, and an ill-judged shot might have spoiled 

 the whole buck. Upon the same lawn were three old 



