INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 6 



this, and every incident gave me fresh delight. Later 

 came the chase of the boar ; and in summer-time I 

 was on the hills, or moving amid the deep stillness of 

 the woods at noon after the majestic stag. That, I 

 thought, surpassed everything in enjoyment : the 

 beautiful scenes into which it led me, the exciting 

 circumstances that were constantly occurring, the 

 gallant bearing of the magnificent creature that my rifle 

 had at last brought down all this caused my whole 

 being to thrill with longing and with joy. After such 

 a day in the forest, there was the sweet pleasure of 

 going over every incident again in thought; I saw 

 the mighty stag as he moved over the green sward 

 in stately pride, I felt anew the hope and the fear 

 and the breathless longing, and I once more stood over 

 him as his vast form lay stretched upon the earth in 

 the sunny beech-forest. At that time I lived in such 

 sweet absorbing memories, or in anticipation of what 

 was to come. For a day in the woods, with my rifle 

 over my shoulder and the hope of meeting the red 

 deer, I should have given up anything. 



At last, however, as a matter of course I grew 

 somewhat calmer. My delight was not diminished 

 it was as great as ever ; but the flutter, and the pal- 

 pitation, and the burning impatience, were subdued. 

 And indeed there was much need they should be. 

 Then too I became initiated in the mysteries of the 

 noble art, and by degrees learned to look on what 

 belonged to it with a more tranquil eye. And when 

 I thought how new and strange all had once appeared 



B 2 



