THE NEW FOREST DEER 87 



plan, and often the guns posted ahead would get 

 a shot when the deer first moved. But the 

 prettiest and most scientific way of going to 

 work was to lay a good hound on the line of a 

 deer where it had been slotted, or seen, in the 

 early morning. Where the object was to get a 

 particular buck, this was also the best way. It 

 was pretty to see the old hound work out the 

 line slowly but surely, till he roused the deer we 

 wanted, and if none of the outlying guns got a 

 chance when he first started, the hound would 

 keep the deer going slowly, and generally in 

 circles, till some one got a chance either one of 

 the men on foot, placing himself in a likely 

 spot, or myself, scuttling on my pony at top 

 speed from place to place as the chase seemed 

 to incline, and jumping off in readiness, with 

 tethered pony at hand, and gun ready. By 

 whichever method we found our deer, it was 

 generally brought to book by the use of a hound 

 generally a couple or couple and a half running 

 together. In this way they did not press the 

 deer as a pack would, and cause them to make 

 a point, but generally managed to keep them 

 moving and dodging about in circles, until they 

 ran up against some one who was ready for 

 them. 



In this manner I have spent many very amusing 



