97 



THE STAO. 



PART SECOND. 



In the foregoing pages mention has been made of a par- 

 ticular department of a sportman's education, to which, 

 and very justly, high importance was attached by the 

 veneurs of old. For they considered this was more ne- 

 cessary to him than all beside ; and that should he have 

 omitted to acquii-e such knowledge, the omission, how- 

 ever great his experience in every other detail, must 

 inevitably preclude him from taking his place among 

 those who had been admitted as followers of the " Xoble 

 Arte." Until possessed of it, the young " Jager " could 

 not be invested with the hunting knife, which he wore 

 suspended at his side as the soldier did his sword. And 

 until he bore this badge he was not considered as one 

 of the craft ; as little as a youth was looked upon as a 

 knight, until he had won his spurs. And every sports- 

 man was proud of such acquirement : it was his particular 

 boast that he knew, and could interpret, each of the signs 

 that betrayed the presence of a stag. For it required 



