308 THE GALLANT LEADER. 



must be the Duke's deed : it is his Grace's usual station ; 

 besides it was done so cleverly." Other shots followed, 

 more or less successful, which turned the leaders, and those 

 that came up in the rear sprung high in the air over their 

 fallen comrades, wheeled back, and all again assembled on 

 the flat ground. They now knew that they were beset on 

 all sides, and soon came to a decision. The hinds had 

 hitherto taken the lead ; but, pressed as they now were, a 

 more undaunted chief took the command. Stern and 

 determined, a magnificent hart stepped forth from the ranks, 

 and stood singly for a space in all his vast proportion : he 

 towered above the herd, as the Satan of Tasso above the 

 infernal host 



" Si la gran fronte, e le gran corna estolle." 



For a few moments he shifted his gaze from man to man ; 

 then he made a desperate charge, followed by the rest of 

 the body. It was evident now, that they were breaking out 

 on the west; they all swept round behind a low rise of 

 ground in that quarter*, at the top of their speed. 

 " Now then, Harry, run low, and do your best." 

 Down he and Tortoise came upon them, and arrived just 

 in time for the middle of the herd. Two fine harts fell to 

 their rifles. And again, as they raced by the peat stacks, 

 another party fired upon them ; and they came so close to 

 the hill-men, that they flung their sticks at them, and had 

 they not given way, would have trampled them to the earth. 

 They now broke back over the moor, and were no longer 

 thought of. It would have required much skill and many 

 hours to get the wind of them again. 



* This swell of ground is very low, and not far from the wood, and 

 insufficient to mask the deer entirely. I often thought it might be 

 possible to use it to advantage and, now tried it for the first time. 



