266 STAGHUNTING WITH THE 



and in much less time than seemed probable, 

 the boat returned to the anxious watchers on 

 the rocks, towing the stag, already dead with the 

 chill of the water, and with seven hounds on 

 board, one of which had already succumbed 

 merely to the effects of his long swim. Another 

 drowned hound shortly was seen, and two 

 others never returned to land. 



By sea and rock, and stag's antler, and 

 horse's heel, the great hounds have much peril 

 to go through, so that a veteran of six seasons, 

 who has survived all these dangers and the 

 strain of summer heat and winter cold, and the 

 deadly chill of the rushing rivers with their 

 icy flood, when the blood is heated to boiling 

 point by a long and rapid chase, is the excep- 

 tion rather than the rule. 



Deer are almost always faster swimmers than 

 hounds, and take to all water whether salt or 

 fresh with evident delight, but it sometimes 

 happens that on dashing into the sea hounds 

 are quick enough to secure their stag before he 

 can swim clear of them, and once out of his 

 depth a stag is easily mastered by a couple of 

 bold and resolute hounds, inasmuch as he can 

 no longer use feet or antlers, and if seized by 

 the ear is easily drowned. When hunted deer 

 have been to sea and have come ashore again, 

 they may often be seen standing in the knee- 

 deep surf, as though unwilling to create a fresh 



