HINTS. 235 



as they pass. Look out, therefore. You hear nothing, 

 absolutely nothmg. But yet that bush right in front 

 moved somewhat, and the twig hanging by a thread at 

 the end of the bough is still rocking in the motionless 

 air. Some animal therefore must be there, or it would 

 not move thus. It is probably an old boar, who, 

 before he ventures further, is thence reconnoitring the 

 ground. Three years ago I was in the mountains after 

 a stag in the rutting season. I followed him by his 

 bellowing, but when at last I got up to him, he ceased 

 his roar, and as he was among bushes I could not dis- 

 cover his exact position. But presently the top of a 

 young tree wavered, ivJiile all the rest were still ; so now 

 I knew exactly where he was, and could proceed accor- 

 dingly. But for that circumstance I should have waited 

 in uncertainty till the stag had moved on, and left the 

 thicket in the opposite direction. 



But though you take heed of the appearance and 

 movements of other animals, do not let them engross 

 all your attention. I mean to say, you are not to amuse 

 yourself by following their motions, by watching their 

 play; and thus while diverting yourself with them 

 allow your attention to be drawn from the main object. 

 WTien in the quiet forest, and I have been waiting 

 breathlessly, sometimes a fawn has skipped forth into 

 the sunshine; or a roe has appeared with her pretty 

 fa^vn ; or a squirrel has jumped down right before me 



