THE COOKERY OF VENISON 291 



warned against the imprudence of over-indulgence 

 after prolonged abstinence. Being reckless, he does 

 not give the matter a thought, and though he has no 

 dinner-pills in his 'possible-sack,' no evil consequences 

 ensue. The mountain air is the most invigorating of 

 tonics. Imagine a Lord Mayor, with his unrivalled 

 opportunities, gifted with such a swallow, and such 

 incalculable digestive powers, and you have the ideal 

 of mortal dignity with the perfection of sensuous bliss. 

 That, no doubt, is an extreme case. Now that the 

 world is being rapidly settled up, and that there are 

 well-marked trails and victualling stations scattered 

 about in the interior of the Dark Continent and the 

 Highlands of Central Asia, men are seldom reduced 

 to such sharp extremities. But we have always 

 considered it a great take-off to the enjoyment of the 

 sportsman-gourmet, that however hungry he may 

 be, he must wait indefinitely for dinner. The hunt- 

 ing larder is replenished from day to day, as the 

 manna in the wilderness was fresh gathered each 

 morning. The hunter, after many a weary walk and 

 stalk, comes back towards nightfall with the choicest 

 portions of the deer. The fire may be in readiness, 

 but he must possess himself in patience while the 

 dinner is cooking. We have seen a starving cur 

 watch the gnawing of a bone of which he hopes the 



