28 DEER-STALKING. 



round the suspicious object till they get the wind 

 of it. 



In crawling up to a large herd, creep as cautiously as 

 one may, it is sometimes impossible to prevent a hind 

 seeing the top of a cap. Then watch her. Up goes her 

 head, and for a time she and you indulge in a right 

 good staring match. She cannot see as much as would 

 include the tip of your nose. Will she or will she not 

 make it out ? Presently she puts her head down and 

 takes a few bites of grass, and you think the day is won ; 

 but suddenly up it goes again, so quickly and so directly 

 fixed on you that it seems a ruse on her part to ensure 

 your detection. With a slow stately step, though withal 

 somewhat "peacocky," she begins to come round you 

 into the wind. The beginning of the end draws near. 

 You know that if she continues her course she must 

 detect you, and you lie flat and still, and hope against 

 hope. Suddenly she has it, and with a loud bark of 

 alarm she warns the rest and off they all go. 



At times a hind will walk right up to the suspicious 

 object, and in such a case suspense is soon over. 



Deer will invariably endeavour to satisfy themselves 

 of what they are running away from, and prefer rather 

 to face a danger they have already ascertained the worst 

 of, than confront one they have not thoroughly examined 

 and satisfied themselves about. It is for this reason so 

 many deer drives go wrong. They will fly before the 

 drivers direct to the rifle-boxes, but an eddy of the 

 wind, a cap shown, a shot fired too soon will turn them 

 all into the faces of the drivers, through whom they will 

 charge in spite of yells, waving caps, upheld arms, and 



