The stag made for a
swampy ground, and finally took to the water beyond it, and stood at
bay. Edward then waited for Oswald, who came up with him."
"He has soiled," said Edward, "and now you may go in and kill him."
Oswald, eager in the chase, hastened up to where the dogs and stag
were in the water, and put a bullet through the animal's head.
Edward went to him, assisted him to drag the stag out of the water,
and then Oswald cut its throat, and proceeded to perform the usual
offices.
"How did you happen to miss him?" said Oswald; "for these are my
shots."
"Because I never fired at him," said Edward; "my quarry lies dead in
the fern--and a fine fellow he is."
"This is a warrantable stag," said Oswald.
"Yes, but mine is a hart royal, as you will see when we go back."
As soon as Oswald had done his work, he hung the quarters of the
animal on an oak-tree, and went back with Edward.
"Where did you hit him, Edward?" said Oswald, as they walked along.
"I could only see his eye through the fern, and I must have hit him
thereabouts."
On their arrival at the spot, Oswald found that Edward had put the
ball right into the eye of the stag.
"Well," said he, "you made me suppose that you knew something of our
craft, but I did not believe that you were so apt as you thought
yourself to be.
Pages:
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134