4 CHAMOIS HUNTING. 



to me, how delighted I had been on first stalking 

 through the forest, and how many there were in England 

 to whom such exquisite pastime was quite unknown, 

 it seemed that if I attempted to describe what had 

 afforded me so much pleasure, the subject was one 

 that could not fail to interest others also. I carried 

 this idea long about with me, indolently delaying to 

 execute what I had planned, when behold ! another 

 did what I had only thought of doing, and Mr. Scrope's 

 book on Deer Stalking appeared. At the moment I 

 was about to preach myself a sermon for my indo- 

 lence, with a wise moral about the evils of delay, 

 etc., but after a time I began to think the evil was 

 not so great after all, and that it was very well as it 

 was ; much better indeed than had two works on the 

 same subject appeared simultaneously. 



Year after year passed away thus, and, thanks to the 

 great kindness of the noble possessor of the extensive 

 forests where I shot my first red deer, I afterwards 

 enjoyed the privilege of always joining his party 

 when the season began. Overlooking the Danube 

 the woods through which we ranged extended on 

 every side for many miles. Right pleasant days were 

 those, when we were met in the morning by the young 

 foresters bringing their report of where the deer were 

 to be found. The young fellows had been abroad 

 since the dawn, and had crossed the furthest hill-top 

 and skirted many a wood to be ready by the time 

 of our arrival. They now came pouring in from all 

 sides to the trysting-place, bringing with them the ex- 



