RIDING AT STAG-HOUNDS 



your feelings, poised in air over eight or ten 

 couple of priceless hounds, with a chorus of 

 remonstrances storming in the rear ! It is no use 

 protesting you " Didn't touch them," you " Didn't 

 mean it," you '* Never knew they were there." 

 Better ride doggedly on, over the largest places 

 you can find, and apologise humbly to everybody 

 at the first check. 



When a fox goes down to water he means 

 crossing, not so the deer. If at all tired, or heated, 

 it may stay there for an hour. On such occasions, 

 therefore, you can take a pull at your horse and 

 your flask too if you like, while you look for the 

 best way to the other side. When induced to 

 leave it, however, the animal seems usually so 

 refreshed by its bath as to travel a long distance, 

 and on this, as on many other occasions in stag- 

 hunting, the run seems only beginning, when you 

 and your horse consider it ought to be nearly 

 over. 



Directly you observe a deer, that has hitherto 

 gone straight, describing a series of circles, you 

 may think about going home. 



It is tired at last, and will give you no more 

 fun for a month. You should offer assistance to 

 the men, and, even if it be not accepted, remain, 

 as a matter of courtesy, to see your quarry 

 properly taken, and sent back to the paddock in 

 its cart. 



203 



