A VERY TAME STAG HUNT 39 



Jack's ' donkey, and he be wonderful sight more tame 

 loike." 



The M.S.H. at length began to evince signs of im- 

 patience and embarrassment at the affectionate behaviour 

 of his quarry, and cracked his thong for all he was worth. 

 The rest of the assembled " staggers " also joined in the 

 thong-cracking exercise, until one might have imagined 

 that a pistol duel on a large scale was taking place. 

 Apparently annoyed somewhat at the clatter, the deer 

 trotted leisurely to the outskirts of a small covert, lying 

 about 100 yards from the spot where he was uncarted, 

 and began to feast upon succulent young swedes. 



The swivel-eyed man was now sent speeding to bring 

 up the hounds which were still airing their sterns before 

 the George Hotel a good mile away. 



Having despatched the messenger, the Master, with 

 the little crowd of youthful rustics following close on the 

 heels of his mare, trotted over to the edge of the wood, 

 where the stag was still nibbling peacefully, and again 

 a volley of pistol-like reports awoke the slumbering 

 echoes of the wood. But the stag was evidently inured 

 to such petty annoyances, and it was not until the in- 

 ventive genius of a ten-year-old lad asserted itself that 

 the noble quarry left its banquet of roots and with a 

 graceful bound disappeared into the dense under covert 

 of the wood. Hearken, ye tame staghunters, and learn 

 how the trick was done. The knowledge may prove of 

 service to you at some future time. 



Observing a superannuated biscuit tin lying half 



