1 86 STAG-HUNTING ON EXMOOR. 



Arthur is appealed to, and is sure he can't tell. " It 

 might have been the same hind, but it might have 

 been a fresh hind we brought away from Shilletts. If 

 'twas the same hind, 'twas a wonderful strong hind, for 

 they was racing her hard for more than an hour before 

 scent grew weak, and they can't have been running 

 much less than four or five hours." Then the watches 

 are brought out and the exact time given. Found the 

 herd at 11.15, laid on the pack at 12, killed at 4.15. 

 "Ay, I'll be bound 'twas all that; but I've known 

 hinds stand as long as that. Some of these hinds will 

 go on most so long as they've a mind to. We was 

 lucky with these storms to kill her as 'twas. I wouldn't 

 say 'twas not the same hind. She was properly bate 

 when we killed her, poor thing." 



Poor thing! The words sound strangely in the 

 mouth of the man who has done more than any one 

 else to do the "poor thing" to death; but they are 

 not hypocritically spoken. We are silent for a few 

 minutes, and remember that all sport is cruel. But still 

 we should be terribly depressed if our hind had beaten 

 us ; and as it is, wet and tired though we be, we are 

 going home joyful. Is it simply because we have killed 

 something, which is supposed to be the daily object of 

 all true Englishmen ? Or is it that, in spite of all her 

 wiles and stratagems, we have fairly driven by honest 



