CH. XXXVI. DEEIl KILLED IN THE FIELDS. 259 



and shirt over his other dress, and waits patiently 

 till he hears the tread of the deer. Having fed 

 with impunity more than once in the place, they 

 come boldly and without hesitation into the midst 

 of the field, scooping out the turnips with their 

 teeth and breaking them to pieces with their sharp 

 hoofs as they pass to and fro through the crop, 

 playing and frequently fighting with each other. 

 If the wind — that bugbear to deer-stalkers and 

 deer-poachers — does not betray the presence of 

 their enemy, it is more than probable that before 

 many minutes are over some unfortunate stag 

 comes close to the place of ambuscade, when he 

 receives either a couple of bullets or a handful of 

 slugs in his shoulder. Startled by the report, and 

 not at the first moment knowing whence it comes, 

 the rest of the deer are likely enough before they 

 make off to collect in a group in the middle of the 

 field, perhaps within a few yards of their hidden 

 enemy. If so, another of the herd is probably 

 killed, and the remainder rush off and do not return 

 to the same tempting spot for some little time. 

 Before daylight the hole is refilled, the dead game 

 is taken away, and no traces remain of what has 

 happened. Roe are constantly killed in the same 

 manner, and are even caught in snares made of 

 strong small rope. 



