tly by themselves at this season, for
the does are with their young calves. We must find the slot of a deer,
and track him to his lair, and you shall have the first shot if you
like; but that, however, depends more upon the deer than upon me."

They had walked four or five miles when they came upon the slot or track
of a deer, but Jacob's practised eye pointed out to Edward that it was
the slot of a young one, and not worth following. He explained to
Edward the difference in the hoof-marks and other signs by which this
knowledge was gained, and they proceeded onwards until they found
another slot, which Jacob declared to be that of a warrantable stag--
that is, one old enough to kill and to be good venison.

"We must now track him to his lair, Edward."

This took them about a mile farther, when they arrived at a small
thicket of thorns about an acre in extent.

"Here he is, you see, Edward; let me now see if he is harboured."

They walked round the thicket, and could not find any slot or track by
which the stag had left the covert, and Jacob pronounced that the animal
must be hid in it.

"Now, Edward, do you stay here while I go back to the lee side of the
covert: I will enter it with Smoker, and the stag will, in all
probability, when he is roused, come out to breast the wind. You will
then have a good shot at him; recollect to fire so as to hit him behind
the shoulder: if he is moving quick, fire a little before the shoulders;
if slow, take aim accurately; but recollect, if I come upon him in the
covert, I shall kill him if I can, for we want the venison, and then we
will go after another to give you a chance."

Jacob then left Edward, and went down to the lee side of the covert,
where he entered it with Smoker. Edward was stationed behind a
thorn-bush, which grew a few yards clear of the covert, and he soon
heard the creaking of the branches.

A short time elapsed, and a fine stag came out at a trot; he turned his
head, and was just bounding away, when Edward fired, and the animal
fell. Remembering the advice of Jacob, Edward remained where he was, in
silence reloading his piece, and was soon afterwards joined by Jacob and
the dog.

"Well done, Edward!" said the forester in a low voice, and covering his
forehead to keep off the glare of the sun, he looked earnestly at a high
brake between some thorn-trees, about half a mile to windward. "I think
I see something there--look, Edward, your eyes are young