. Records of stag-hunting on Exmoor. e hounds run up toher, but a stag, especially an old stag, often keepssome In reserve for the final struggle. There are signsby which it may be known when a deer is failing—theslot shows the claws wider spread and the print ofthe dew-claws, and the tracks show that the animal isreeling. Again, a deer always ascends a hill slantingly,and it is only when they have not strength to go to thetop that they try to climb straight up. It is when theyare thus pressed that they make those marvellous leaps,even to fifteen feet high, to escape from their a ru
. Records of stag-hunting on Exmoor. e hounds run up toher, but a stag, especially an old stag, often keepssome In reserve for the final struggle. There are signsby which it may be known when a deer is failing—theslot shows the claws wider spread and the print ofthe dew-claws, and the tracks show that the animal isreeling. Again, a deer always ascends a hill slantingly,and it is only when they have not strength to go to thetop that they try to climb straight up. It is when theyare thus pressed that they make those marvellous leaps,even to fifteen feet high, to escape from their a rule a beaten stag blunders on as far as hisstrength will let him, but a beaten hind is apt to turnback at the last. A stag, and particularly an old stag, makes, as arule, a desperate fight for his life, and it is then verydangerous to get too close to him. Hinds also willturn and butt, but they of course are not to be dreadedlike stags. A stag at bay stands with his chin highin the air, like the noble beast he is, not with his nose. THE CHASE OF THE STAG. 159 on the ground like a bullock, as some artists are fondof representing him. His mouth, open while he wasrunning, is shut when he is beat. A splendid sight heis in the clear brown water of the moorland streams,with a background of oak coppice or heather to set offhis noble form and bearing, and the ring of bayinghounds round him. He chooses, if he can, a spot wherehe can stand and the hounds must swim, and then woebetide the hound that comes within reach. Quick aslightning he rears up and plunges down, and if hemisses him by an inch that hound may thank his stars,for the wound of a stags horn is a very dangerous a stag can get his back against a rock or other placeinaccessible to hounds he can set any number at de-fiance ; but if they can get all round him the questionis simply how long his strength may last. If he shouldget into deep water, where he must swim, the houndswill get on his back and drown him ; death in
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjecthorses, bookyear1887
