76 RECENT HUNTING TRIPS. 



notice us they plunged one after the other 

 into the river. They swam across towards our 

 side one behind the other, and heading a little 

 down stream, got into shallow water about fifty 

 yards below where we were sitting. Here tliey 

 stood for some minutes shaking the water out 

 of their thick coats like great dogs. Presently, 

 headed by one of the young stags, they waded 

 one after the other back again into deep water, 

 and swam in single file straight up the centre 

 of the river, and again landed on the same side 

 about two hundred yards above us. They 

 certainly passed within thirty or forty yards of 

 us, but, though we were in full view on the 

 open beach, never appeared to notice us. 



As the wind was blowing up stream they very 

 soon scented us after leaving the water, and 

 they then showed the same alarm which is 

 manifested by all other wild animals at the 

 smeU of man. As the taint entered their 

 nostrils they each made a short dash to one 

 side or the other ; then they aU stood still for 

 a moment, looking eagerly for their unseen 

 enemies, and then dashed off headlong. 



