54: EXCITEMENT PECULIAR TO DEER-STALKING. 



the enthusiasm I felt when I first began my career. In 

 the pursuit, the stag's motions are so noble, and his 

 reasoning so acute, that believe me I had rather follow 

 one hart from morning till night with the expectation of 

 getting a shot (in which I might be probably defeated), 

 than have the best day's sport with moor fowl that the hills 

 could afford me. All your powers of body and mind are 

 called into action, and if they are not properly exercised, 

 the clever creature will inevitably defeat you : it is quite 

 an affair of generalship ; and if you have any thoughts of 

 the army, I would advise you to scan all our motions, that 

 you may gain a knowledge of ground and skirmishing.* 

 You will find that almost every step we take has a 

 meaning in it ; we shall creep along crafty paths, between 

 clefts and recesses, and make rapid and continuous runs, 

 according to the various motions of the quarry ; so that 

 when the deer are afoot, the interest and excitement will 

 never flag for one single moment. See what a boundless 

 field for action is here, and what a sense of power these 

 rifles give you, which are fatal at such an immense distance. 

 When you are in good training, and feel that you can 

 command the deer, your bodily powers being equal to take 

 every possible chance, the delight of this chase is excessive, 

 as I trust you will ere long experience ; and here ends 

 my eulogy." 



" Well, I have listened to you with great interest, for 

 I see your heart goes along with your words ; and I burn 

 with impatience to see a sport which every individual I 



* It is a fact, that one of our most gallant and celebrated generals 

 (why should I forbear to mention Lord Lynedoch ?) declared that he 

 got his knowledge of ground in this forest. 



