DEER KIND. 21 



only to cool himself, but the better to hear the 

 voice, and judge of the distance of his implacable 

 pursuers. It is now easily perceivable how sorely 

 he is pressed by his manner of running, which, 

 from the bounding easy pace with which he be- 

 gan, is converted into a stiff and short manner of 

 going ; his mouth also is black and dry, without 

 foam on it ; his tongue hangs out ; and the tears, 

 as some say, are seen starting from his eyes. His 

 last refuge, when every other method of safety 

 has failed him, is to take the water, and to attempt 

 an escape by crossing whatever lake or river he 

 happens to approach. While swimming, he takes 

 all possible care to keep in the middle of the 

 stream, lest by touching the bough of a tree, or 

 the herbage on the banks, he may give scent to 

 the hounds. He is also ever found to swim against 

 the stream ; whence the huntsmen have made it 

 into a kind of proverb, That he that would his 

 chase Jind, must up with the river and down with 

 the wind. On this occasion too he will often 

 cover himself under water, so as to show nothing 

 but the tip of his nose. Every resource and every 

 art being at length exhausted, the poor creature 

 tries the last remains of his strength, by boldly 

 opposing those enemies he cannot escape ; he 

 therefore faces the dogs and men, threatens with 

 his horns, guards himself on every side, and for 

 some time stands at bay. In this manner, quite 

 desperate, he furiously aims at the first dog or 

 man that approaches ; and it often happens that 

 he does not die unrevenged. At that time the 

 more prudent, both of the dogs and men, seem 



VOL. II. X 



