52 STAG-HUNTING ON EX MO OR. 



days after his arrival, one of the male deer was killed 

 by mischance by the hounds in i860, the other (grown 

 to a stag) was killed after a poor run in 1865. The 

 hind gave good runs, and was spared only to be 

 destroyed by poachers in i860. 



Altogether the strangers were not quite a success, 

 but it was a little hard that Mr. Bisset, who had gone 

 to much trouble and expense to improve the breed, 

 should have received nothing but blame for his pains. 

 Yet this is what a master of hounds must invariably 

 expect in any country; and it is fair to say that he is 

 rarely disappointed. 



The season of 1858 was as good as the last. In 

 thirty-five hunting days fourteen deer were taken and 

 eleven of them killed, four stags and seven hinds — 

 good proof that the numbers of the herd were increas- 

 ing. Nevertheless there was but too good evidence 

 that the poachers were still at work ; and, more 

 troublesome still, more sheep-killers appeared among 

 the hounds when drawing an open cover (Shilletts), 

 where the sheep lie as frequently as the deer. The 

 last day of the season in especial was a day of mis- 

 haps. A dead-beaten hind escaped by running into 

 the herd, and a hind calf was consequently sacrificed. 

 "Pilgrim's" leg was broken by "an underbred brute" 



