ROE AND RED-DEER 87 



serve as a guide through the dim wood lared with tree boles, groined with 



paths, in times of danger. Already, branches, and shaded in a dimmer than 



perhaps, was the doe in search of a religious light. At a distance of uncer- 



site for her nest, in the secret places tain yards, which might represent a 



of the wood, soft below, and under mile of lit, open country, vague forms 



the hiding of overarching branches, appeared, and eyes shone like four 



There in the coming May would she faint stars. 



drop her dappled, velvet-eared young. What a dainty piece of quiet stalk- 

 Thence she would lead abroad her ing, merely for the charm of it, and 

 double charge of large-eyed fawns, with no rifle save the eye. There 

 their sides sleek and shining, their was a quick shot at the buck spring- 

 delicate legs slender as hazel wands, ing back to shelter, bearing the faint 

 The roe not only pairs, but breeds in white light behind ; a right and left 

 pairs ; in both respects, differing from at the pair, whose red coats were so 

 the red deer. faintly outlined against the red herb- 

 One who has not met it at home, age, a wavering aim, midway between 

 can, vaguely, understand all that the where the stars were so faintly gleam- 

 roe is to the wood. When he has gone ing in the dim wood aisles. The shy- 

 there, he will not need to be told why ness, the curiosity, the half sportive 

 legend, and even tragedy have taken grave play of the quarry. What deli- 

 its shape. It drifts across the tran- cate sport it would make, if sportsmen 

 sient sun gleams, and through the ever think of the charm, 

 shades which lie thick under the pines. In the presence of real danger the 

 Its presence and passage are less seen buck reveals quite new phases. Not 

 than felt. Only, after it has vanished, that he fears more, but that he becomes 

 does the reality dawn on the mind. more resourceful. While the charm 

 The lower whorls of the spruces is not less, the interest grows. He 

 swept down, till the tips brushed the is ready witted. Of all sporting ani- 

 faded needles, carpeting the wood mals this shy creature is least flustered 

 floor. The air was stifling in its wind- by the chase. He is tantalizingly 

 less heat. Progress was slow and leisurely in his movements. I think 

 painful ; mostly stooping, often dou- that always the stalk should be a 

 bling up. From my quadrupedal solitary one ; the charm vanishes else, 

 pose, I peered along the aisles ; pil- A man should be alone in the wood 



