FALLOW-DEER AT HOME 41 



place, thus providing a substitute in a manner 

 which did more credit to its ingenuity than to 

 its gallantry. The hounds frequently run them 

 down, wearying them out much as a stoat does 

 a rabbit, by perseverance rather than speed. 



I may conclude with the story of a roe hunt 

 in another place, for which I cannot vouch my 

 personal knowledge. Some years ago the roe had 

 increased to a mischievous extent in a young plan- 

 tation, and the fiat was issued for a massacre on 

 a large scale. All who were willing to assist were 

 invited, and a mixed crowd of farmers, shepherds, 

 and keepers made their appearance, each with a 

 gun or rifle over his shoulder, and a flask of whisky 

 in his pocket. Boys, gillies, hounds, and collies 

 were employed in starting the game and keeping 

 it on foot ; and from an early hour a terrific bom- 

 bardment continued slugs, buck-shot, and bullets 

 flying in all directions. The head-keeper, to give 

 his own account, soon retired into a dry ditch and 

 prayed, thus providing, as far as he could, for his 

 bodily safety and spiritual welfare. Happily no 

 one was killed or even wounded. The next 

 morning one of the farmers came and asked him, 

 with an air of mystery, if he had paid his boys. 

 He replied in the affirmative. " And did they 

 all come for their money ? " " Yes," he said. 

 " Then," said the questioner with an air of relief, 

 " it will be a roe that you will find lying under the 

 dyke a wee bit west of the withered ash tree." 



