236 STAG-HUNTING 



been stopped, to signal to the other if all is right to 

 bring the pack on. A quarter of an hour or more is 

 frequently saved in this way, and many a deer has 

 been killed in consequence who would have escaped 

 had he had a longer start. 



Opinion is a good deal divided as to the expedi- 

 ency of giving a deer law. It is a complete delusion 

 to suppose that our ancestors deliberately did so. As 

 a rule they did, no doubt ; but that was only because 

 they could not help it, for the big woods had then fewer 

 paths in them, and it was more difficult to get about. 

 There is abundant evidence that when they had a 

 chance to lay on close to a stag they took care to do 

 so ; Mr. Bisset's diary shows that his practice was the 

 same. 



If you give a light deer a long start, it will in- 

 fallibly be a long time before you catch him, if indeed 

 you ever do so at all ; the best chance with such is 

 that, thinking he has distanced his pursuers, he may lie 

 down and get stiff : and then if you fresh find him and 

 also have daylight you will probably kill him. If you 

 give a heavy stag a long start the chase will no doubt 

 occupy more time than if you do not ; but one of two 

 things is likely to happen : either the deer will lie down 

 in the first bit of cover or water he comes to, and will 

 wait there till the pack fresh finds him, after which he 



