THE CHASE OF THE HIND. 185 



Rooman, what be you ' bout ? ' ' The venison is then made 

 over to a farmer, who undertakes to send it to Holni- 

 cote for distribution ; for though the deer by right 

 belongs absolutely to the master, custom has deprived 

 him of all save the heads of stags, and the slots (which 

 are always distributed if there is anybody that wishes 

 for one) of both stags and hinds. The huntsman's per- 

 quisites are the heads of the hinds and the hides and 

 inwards of all deer ; but here again custom steps in, for 

 the liver is shared by the farmers at the death. The 

 venison is distributed among the farmers of the district 

 wherein the deer was found, the apportionment being 

 generally undertaken by one of themselves. The master 

 never sees a bit of venison from year's end to year's end. 

 The obsequies are soon over, and we move home- 

 wards, though not without a pressing invitation from 

 the most hospitable of farmers to '* come into my place 

 and take something for yourselves and your horses." 

 But we are little more than seven miles from home, and 

 loth to increase the distance to nine, so the good fellow, 

 who has often been our host before now, rather reluc- 

 tantly wishes us " Good night; " and as we wend our 

 way through the dark cover towards Cloutsham there 

 arises the momentous question, " Did we change hinds, 

 or have we been hunting the same deer all day?" 



