Smoker, to heel!" They proceeded through the wood for more than a
mile, when Jacob made a sign to Edward, and dropped down into the
fern, crawling along to an open spot, where, at some distance, were a
stag and three deer grazing. The deer grazed quietly, but the stag was
ever and anon raising up his head and snuffing the air as he looked
round, evidently acting as a sentinel for the females.
The stag was perhaps a long quarter of a mile from where they had
crouched down in the fern. Jacob remained immovable till the animal
began to feed again, and then he advanced, crawling through the fern,
followed by Edward and the dog, who dragged himself on his stomach
after Edward. This tedious approach was continued for some time, and
they had neared the stag to within half the original distance, when
the animal again lifted up his head and appeared uneasy. Jacob stopped
and remained without motion. After a time the stag walked away,
followed by the does, to the opposite side of the clear spot on which
they had been feeding, and, to Edward's annoyance, the animal was half
a mile from them. Jacob turned round and crawled into the wood, and
when he knew that they were concealed, he rose on his feet and said,
"You see, Edward, that it requires patience to stalk a deer.
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