SPORT ON THE GANDER AND THE GULL 253 



through two streams, and then up a tree, to see how the 

 game was progressing. 



" Not far enough yet," said Joe, so on we went, making 

 great casts down-wind, and watching from every available 

 point. He might pass close to us or behind us at any 

 moment, so thick was the timber in places, but at "cutting- 

 off" stags, Joe was my superior and seldom made a mistake, 

 so I left it entirely in his hands. At last he said, " He gone 

 by unless he stop somewhere up-wind," a sound piece of 

 judgment, which we now acted upon by moving across against 

 the wind. We had not proceeded far when Joe, who was 

 in front, suddenly stopped and drew back slowly, so I knew 

 he had seen the quarry. I crept forward and saw a large 

 stag lying on a steep mound above a brook, about loo yards 

 away, and, whilst observing his horns, which were poor, a 

 loud crash of antlers resounded in the forest about 60 yards 

 to the right, and there was the sound of war and turmoil. 

 The fighters were in a thick place, but, as the wind was 

 blowing well, I crept in on my hands and knees, and got 

 within 30 yards of two five-year-old stags, who were doing 

 a little bit of preliminary practice. They were not fighting 

 seriously, but boxing, to try their strength, and I obtained 

 a splendid view of their manoeuvres at close range. They 

 seem to spar in much the same manner as red deer, always 

 whipping round quickly to gain the advantage of the hill 

 whenever one or other obtained the push. After watching 

 them for ten minutes, and whilst making a sketch, one of 

 the combatants gave his antagonist a good blow in the side 

 which caused the latter to retreat precipitously on to the 

 top of myself. I was too intent on my work for the moment 

 to see what was happening, and looked up to find a great 

 beast staring me in the face within five yards. I rose to 

 get out of his way, deeming a closer acquaintance undesirable. 



