FALLOW-DEER AT HOME 29 



shouts and waving handkerchief, he is three parts 

 of the way across before the boat is after him ; 

 the men pulling with a will to make up for lost 

 time and neglected opportunities. He hears the 

 splash of the oars and quickens his pace ; and it 

 is well for him that he does so, for the bow of 

 the boat is actually touching his back before he 

 reaches the shore. For a moment he stands and 

 shakes himself, and then, trotting leisurely up the 

 hill, is lost to sight in a bank of hazel. No doubt 

 he thinks himself safe, but he is mistaken. All 

 depends upon circumstances. If I can find the 

 men, and they can catch some of the hounds, 

 while there is time to go across after him, we may 

 have him yet; for the island, although long, is 

 narrow, and there is not much wood in it. He 

 will, no doubt, be lying close, and, when found, 

 will readily take to the water again to return to 

 his home ; but this time, at least, he will have no 

 chance of escape in that quarter, for the boatmen 

 will be on the alert and watching for him. 



The baffled hounds, after fruitlessly baying for 

 a minute or two on the shore, have straggled 

 back into the cover. I despatch my lunch, and 

 watch the herons lazily flying over the island 

 opposite, counting over thirty, some of which, no 

 doubt, are young ones of this year, bred upon the 

 spot. Presently twelve black objects are seen 

 crossing the field below in line, which I can recog- 

 nise with the naked eye for a flock of the wild 



