ABOUT SOME DEER. 241 



are to detect, though they may be all round you. 

 Mind you do not step on those dead leaves or 

 that rotten stick or else our presence will be 

 betrayed. 



Hold hard ! there they are, a herd of at least 

 sixteen. Do you see that handsome stag, wan- 

 dering about in the midst of his harem, stopping 

 now and then to browse on some succulent morsel, 

 and anon butting some of his female kind who 

 may have perhaps not shown due regard for his 

 lordship's wishes, and perhaps punting into some 

 ' buckeen ' who may have been guilty of some in- 

 fringement of cervine etiquette. Just watch him 

 for a moment (the wind is all right for us, and we 

 are safe from detection) as he prepares to drive 

 oif that younger stag whose attentions to some of 

 his ladies have annoyed him. Mark how he ad- 

 vances gingerly as on tip-toe his hair all stand- 

 ing on end, when, with a tremendous and sudden 

 rush, he drives away the offender, and then comes 

 swaggering back in all the masterly pride of 

 superiority ! 



But see ! he suddenly wheels round, and is gaz- 

 ing at something. The sound of an axe wielded 

 perhaps half-a-mile away has doubtless caught his 

 ears, and the hinds too are suspicious, so take 

 your shot whilst you can. I will take the younger 

 stag. One moment more, though, just one more 



K 



