THE CHASE OF THE STAG. 157 



that time ; but in that case he will be blown, not beaten, 

 and will defend himself for a long time. Other deer 

 one can hardly expect to kill in less than two hours, 

 and it is imprudent to allow less than two hours and a 

 half to run a hind to death. It is not Implied that they 

 have never been killed in less, for a stag, old but not 

 heavy, has been raced to death in fifty-five minutes 

 over the open, and a hind in an hour and a half, with- 

 out a check ; but one cannot reckon on this. Some 

 deer, particularly hinds, are marvellously tough ; and 

 there is no saying how long they may last. It Is of no 

 importance that hounds are close to them, for deer 

 will go on for miles only three or four hundred yards 

 ahead with hounds racing all the way. Still pace is 

 bound to tell, and pace it is that marks the great dif- 

 ference between the old and the present pack. The 

 'Might galloping deer," which In Lord Graves's time 

 led the hounds a dance which upset them and horses 

 for a fortnight, are now killed in two hours or there- 

 abouts, if scent be good and the pack laid on close 

 to them. 



Deer are, as a rule, killed in the water, stags and 

 hinds alike. Water is always the refuge in the middle 

 of the chase, and it is also the last refuge. There are 

 instances of both stags and hinds being rolled over 



