228 SPORT IN NEWFOUNDLAND 



scattered over the plain; altogether a likely 

 looking ground. We soon saw a big stag about 

 two miles away feeding across a swamp. The 

 head looked a good one but it was impossible 

 to make out the points at such a distance, so 

 we decided to get nearer. As we moved on we 

 saw another stag coming out of a hollow on 

 our left, but the head was a poor one. Within 

 four minutes we saw a third stag on our right, 

 but the glass soon showed that he too was not 

 of the right sort. All these were big-bodied 

 animals, but carrying poor heads. Following 

 on after the first stag, we saw him enter a small 

 wood. As soon as we got close outside the 

 wood I decided to send Steve round and give 

 the stag his wind. I took a position command- 

 ing both sides of the wood, on one of which, if 

 Steve's drive were successful, the stag must 

 come out. After about half-an-hour's wait a 

 crash in the wood just in front of me told me 

 that our plan had succeeded, and out burst a 

 fine stag and stood looking back into the wood 

 and within twenty yards of me. Alas, his 

 horns were in velvet, and although the tops 

 were good he had only one indifferent frontal 

 and a spike for the other. So he too had to go 

 unharmed. Again I reproached myself for 

 not having brought the camera. I had missed 

 yesterday and to-day two chances of snap- 



