DEER-STA L KING 



explains itself, though the explanation is not always 

 justified by procedure. 



When I was quite a beginner at the business I 

 thought a sanctuary was a necessary appendage to 

 every deer forest, and accordingly dignified by that 

 name a small corner of the ground much favoured by 

 stags on account of its rough heather and thick 

 natural wood. 



Now whenever the weather was unsuitable for 

 stalking, and the question was asked in a house party, 

 more distinguished by youth than by judgment or 

 experience, ' What shall we do to-day ? ' the answer as 

 frequently as not was ' Let us drive the sanctuary.' 

 This was of course reducing the whole thing to an 

 absurdity, but the absurdity was in the high-sounding 

 appellation, not in the frequent disturbance of this 

 particular bit of ground which was so small in extent 

 not a tenth part of an adjacent area with similar 

 features that it did not matter what was done on it. 

 The place was very handy to the house ; you could 

 do it after lunch, and take any ladies who did not 

 mind sitting on damp heather to see the sport. They 

 could either ride or row in a boat, or go one way and 

 come back the other, and in short it was very good 

 fun. We are older and wiser now, but alas ! do we 

 have the same fun ? In a former chapter I ventured 



