302 MANAGEMENT OF HOUNDS. 



round in a circle, with their horses' heads to the gorse. 

 This was readily done. " Now, gentlemen," I said, 

 " don't be nervous, but stand firm together ; the deer is 

 only a young one, and will not hurt you ; he is moreover, 

 so blown, that he cannot jump over your heads." All 

 promised compliance, whilst I went to help the whipper- 

 in. Tickling a trout is one thing, but tickling a wild 

 deer is rather another guess sort of an affair. Our lord 

 of the forest did not fancy this sort of thing at all — his 

 motto evidently being noli me tangere. At the first 

 touch of the whipper's-in hand he bolted upright out of 

 the gorse, and bounded into the ring. Consternation 

 was depicted on many a face. " Hold hard, gentlemen,'* 

 I shouted, " he can't hurt you ; hold tight together one 

 minute, and I will hamper him." It would not do, the 

 ring was broken in a trice. Threes about, right and 

 left wheel being performed at the shortest possible 

 notice, and in double quick time. I could not forbear 



a as our deer bounded away into the forest. We 



were just laying the hounds on again when an order 

 arrived from head quarters to stop our detachment, Mr. 

 Davis having been more fortunate in securing the deer 

 he had followed. Thus ended my first stag-hunt. 



