212 STAG-HUNTING 



own experience, which I cannot forbear quoting in 

 full : 



'I remember once, when hunting a boar with a 

 very steady pack of bloodhounds, that I reached a 

 piece of open ground in time to see a stag break 

 cover in front of them. I would not have them 

 stopped ; I hurried on to the next wood, and got to 

 the other side of it only to see the stag break again 

 and cross a little river, and then a field, the hounds 

 still following and hunting keenly, even the best of 

 them. Naturally I began to feel uneasy ; pushing on 

 briskly to a certain crossing-place a mile and a half on, 

 I saw my boar pass it, followed at a hundred yards 

 distance by the same stag. When the latter saw me 

 he turned on one side ; the hounds came up, and 

 without doubting an instant went on upon their boar, 

 whose line had simply been covered by the stag's.' 



Hounds so trustworthy as this must be very 

 good ; yet, good as they seem to be, and freely as they 

 are trusted, an efficient pack is in France only reckoned 

 half the battle. Emergencies and difficulties are sure 

 to arise which all the woodcraft of the men will be 

 needed to surmount, especially if the hunted deer 

 join others. For then the best hounds often refuse 

 to have anything more to do with the chase, and if 

 none but young hounds are carrying the line there 

 is little chance of forcing the stag to leave his com- 



