Hunting the Wild Red Deer. 1 5 i 



cussed by tlie occupants of the vehicles whilst the 

 covers were being drawn. 



The '*■ tufters '^ having been taken into the deep 

 woods, but a short time elapsed before they found, and 

 I had the satisfaction of viewing a noble stag breaking 

 cover and going away over the hill ; but an over-eager 

 and selfish sportsman having, in his aDxiety to get a 

 good start, placed himself in the way, the stag was 

 headed, and returned to cover. Need I remark that 

 that particular sportsman had my sincerest and 

 warmest wishes for his welfare. Then a time of wait- 

 ing elapsed, during which the picnic parties pulled 

 out their hampers, and revelled in their good cheer, 

 disturbed though for a while by a heavy hailstorm 

 which swept over the hills. Fortunately this was the 

 clearing shower, and a stag having been driven from 

 the cover the hounds were laid on, and I soon found 

 myself going at a racing pace over the heather ; but 

 as the thoroughbred chestnut seemed to have a will 

 and a way of his own, I determined to give him my 

 unreserved confidence ; and I am bound to say that 

 he deserved it. Never putting his foot wrong or 

 making the slightest slip, thus he careered gaily along, 

 up hill or down hill, as I galloped away, in order to 

 get well up with the hounds. 



Having determined to take a line of my own, I went 

 down a pathway covered with loose stones, which very 

 much resembled Ludgate-hill with the pavement up ; 

 "but having the additional advantage of some boggy 

 ground and a running stream at its base. This safely 

 passed, and being thoroughly satisfied that I should 

 not be likely to meet with anything worse, I mounted 

 an exceedingly steep hill, to be rewarded with the 



