80 FOEEST CREATURES. 



But now he lives in a delirium of excitement, and 

 every feeling and instinct and habit, fear, hunger, 

 thirst, are forgotten ; they have given way to, and 

 have disappeared before, one sole, strong, all-absorbing 

 impulse. His neck is swollen to an unusual size with 

 his continual bellowing ; and his restless life and want 

 of sufficient nourishment, begin to tell upon him. But 

 hark ! not far off sounds a hoarse roar. At once the 

 enervated creature's whole mien is changed ; he turns 

 in fiery anger thither whence the audacious voice pro- 

 ceeded, and hurls forth in fiercer rage a deep-rumbling 

 challenging reply. Again he sends it rolling forth in 

 a long reverberating peal, and then in short, sudden 

 efforts, as though he already were wrestling with his foe. 



And now appears the intruder ; he stops a moment 

 to measure his enemy. The hinds look up, when forth 

 goes their lord from amidst them, to meet the insolent 

 stranger. He rushes upon him with all the hatred 

 which jealousy can inspire. His mighty head is 

 lowered, and down he charges upon his opponent, 

 blinded with rage. Woe to him whose antlers are 

 the shorter ! If equally matched, the fight will be 

 long and terrible, and frightful the wounds which 

 those long brow antlers will inflict. All the ground 

 is upturned by such a tournay. Eound and round, like 

 skilful fencers, move the two combatants, and each digs 

 his hoofs into the earth to obtain a purchase in pushing 

 against his adversary. 



