154 STAG- HUNTING ON EXMOOR. 



stream above her, and thus, carried almost on to her 

 back, roused her effectually. 



But the tricks of deer are not confined to the water 

 alone. Sometimes, and this is especially true of old 

 deer of both sexes, they will double and dodge like 

 rabbits, in and out and round and round, with all the 

 old tricks of lying down and pushing up fresh deer. 

 Hinds especially will hang about the covers for hours, 

 and refuse, in spite of all endeavours of hounds and 

 huntsmen, to leave them. If they want to go to a 

 place they will go. A hind has been forced out of 

 cover and headed back seven times from re-entering 

 it, but she has tried again an eighth time and suc- 

 ceeded. If you want to head a deer from some point, 

 as, for instance, the cliffs, you will almost invariably 

 fail ; but if you want him to go away over the open, 

 and he is ** blanched," or headed, by some one who 

 has no business to be in his way, he will turn back ; 

 and in this way many a good run has been spoiled by 

 a loafing tourist, who cares not whether the deer have 

 a fair chance for his life, or whether those who sub- 

 scribe to the maintenance of the pack have their day's 

 sport made or marred, so long as he, the irresponsible, 

 sees a deer. 



Of course it not unfrequently happens that after a 



