I
should have seen his antlers move and have marked his lair, and we
should then have gone after him and stalked him too."
"I see," replied Edward, "I was wrong; but I shall know better another
time."
"That's why I tell you, my boy," replied Jacob. "Now let us go to our
quarry. Ay, Edward, this is a noble beast. I thought that he was a
hart royal, and so he is."
"What is a hart royal, Jacob?"
"Why, a stag is called a brocket until he is three years old, at four
years he is a staggart; at five years a warrantable stag; and after
five years he becomes a hart royal."
"And how do you know his age?"
"By his antlers: you see that this stag has nine antlers; now, a
brocket has but two antlers, a staggart three, and a warrantable stag
but four; at six years old, the antlers increase in number until they
sometimes have twenty or thirty. This is a fine beast, and the venison
is now getting very good. Now you must see me do the work of my
craft."
Jacob then cut the throat of the animal, and afterward cut off its
head and took out its bowels.
"Are you tired, Edward?" said Jacob, as he wiped his hunting-knife on
the coat of the stag.
"No, not the least."
"Well, then, we are now, I should think, about four or five miles from
the cottage.
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