STALKING ROE-BUCK IN SILESIA 59 



breakfast in the hall, where I find friend 

 Finckenstein, nicknamed " The Black," already 

 in possession. Then we drive separately to 

 the hunting-ground. 



The little Head Forester drives with me. 

 And though we are neither of us quite awake 

 we soon get into conversation. We know 

 every tree and shrub of the country. The 

 Head Forester has many questions to answer, 

 and tells me all the news. Wiat has become 

 of the only buck which escaped us last year; 

 whether the famous Pit-Farm buck is still 

 there; whether there has been any poaching; 

 whether my friends the gipsies have come yet 

 (I have a great weakness for these amusing 

 vagabonds) ; how the various cattle are doing ; 

 how much damage has been done in the 

 forest — all these and more must be talked 

 over. 



We drive through tall, beautiful pines, then 

 through lovely meadows and rich, cultivated 

 land. Close to a big corn-field we halt. Here 

 we hope to see a buck come out into the clover 

 on the other side. 



