236 
WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WA YS 
CHAP. 
we pushed forward, passed the carriages, which 
were empty, as everybody had joined in the hunt, 
and, after running about a quarter of a mile down the 
road, we heard the bay, and shortly arrived at the 
spot where the stag was standing in the middle of 
a rapid, and the hounds were baying from the 
bank. No doubt the dogs expected to hear the 
crack of a rifle, and to see the gallant stag totter 
and fall in the foaming river, according to their old 
experiences. However, they were not long in 
doubt. Patting both the excited hounds upon the 
back, and giving them a loud halloo, I jumped into 
the water, which was hardly more than hip-deep, 
but the stream was very rapid. The stag, upon 
seeing my advance, ran down the bed of the riven 
and halted again after a short run of 50 or 60 
yards. The two keepers had followed me, and 
Oscar and his companion no longer thought of 
baying from the bank, but being carried forward 
by the torrent, together with ourselves, were met 
by the stag with lowered antlers. I never saw 
dogs behave better, although for a moment one was 
beneath the water ; Oscar was hanging to the ear. 
I caught hold of the horn to assist the dog, and at 
the same moment the other hound was holding 
by the throat. The knife had made its thrust 
behind the shoulder, and the two gillies were 
holding fast by the horns to prevent the torrent 
from carrying away the dying animal. This 
had been a pretty course, which did not last long, 
but it was properly managed, and in my opinion 
