46 A FOURTEEN-POINTER 



side. The suspense had lasted an hour when 

 we heard a cry. This was a sign that the 

 drivers had reached the flags at B. Things 

 did not look very hopeful. 



The beat now pressed noisily back. The 

 cries of the drivers came nearer and nearer. 

 The suspense grew. Nothing happened. 



At last men began to come singly out of the 

 fir thicket. It was all over. 



The whole thing had lasted two hours, and 

 so far the only result of the chase was a 

 beautiful view. 



Much annoyed, we climbed out of the butt 

 and began to mount the edge of the thicket to 

 get to the carriage. 



Close to the lower edge of the clearing I 

 heard the cry of the drivers. I turned, to see 

 a very large stag trotting peacefully along past 

 the flags and stopping at the entrance. He 

 was at a distance of some two hundred yards. 



There was no time to lose. What a piece 

 of luck that the long-distance rifle was still 

 loaded ! 



The first shot took him in the bowels. The 



