ag, seeing his human enemy so near, had strained every nerve to
escape, and Harry, desperately rash and daring, seeing he could not turn
or head him, actually spurred upon him counter to broadside, in hope to
ride him down; foiled once again, in this--his last hope, as it seemed--
he drew his longest knife, and as--a quarter of a second too late only--
he crossed behind the buck, he swung himself half out of his saddle, and
striking a full blow, succeeded in hamstringing him; while the gray,
missing the support of the master-hand, stumbled and fell upon his head.

Horse, stag, and man, all rolled upon the ground within the compass of
ten yards--the terrified and wounded deer striking out furiously in all
directions--so that it seemed impossible that Archer could escape some
deadly injury--while, to increase the fury and the peril of the scene,
the hounds came up, and added their fresh fierceness to the fierce
confusion. Before, however, A--- came up, Harry had gained his feet,
drawn his small knife--the larger having luckily flown many yards as he
fell--and running in behind the struggling quarry, had seized the brow
antler, and at one strong and skilful blow, severed the weasand and the
jugular. One gush of dark red gore--one plunging effort, and the superb
and stately beast lay motionless forever--while the loud death halloo
rang over the broad valley--all fears, all perils, utterly forgotton in
the strong rapture of that thrilling moment.

SNIPE ON THE UPLAND

"Now then, boys, we've no time to loose," said Archer, as he replaced
his knives, which he had been employed in wiping with great care, in
their respective scabbards, "it's getting toward eight o'clock, and I
feel tolerably peckish, the milk punch and biscuits notwithstanding; we
shall not be in the field before ten o'clock, do our best for it. Now,
Jem," he continued, as that worthy, followed by David Seers and the
Captain made their appearance, hot and breathless, but in high spirits
at the glorious termination of the morning's sport--"Now, Jem, you and
the Captain must look out a good strong pole, and tie that fellow's
legs, and carry him between you as far as Blain's house--you can come up
with the wagon this afternoon and bring him down to the village. What
the deuce are you pottering at that colt about, Tom? He's not hurt a
pin's value, on the contrary--"

"Better for 't, I suppose, you'll be a tellin' me torights; better for
that all-fired etarnal t