'Twas strange to think what difference A single creature made; A single stag had caused a whole _Stag_nation in their trade. Now Huggins from his saddle rose, And in the stirrups stood: And lo! a little cart that came Hard by a little wood. In shape like half a hearse,--tho' not For corpses in the least; For this contained the _deer alive_, And not the _dear deceased_! And now began a sudden stir, And then a sudden shout, The prison-doors were opened wide, And Robin bounded out! His antlered head shone blue and red, Bedecked with ribbons fine; Like other bucks that come to 'list The hawbucks in the line. One curious gaze of mild amaze, He turned and shortly took; Then gently ran adown the mead, And bounded o'er the brook. Now Huggins, standing far aloof, Had never seen the deer, Till all at once he saw the beast Come charging in his rear. Away he went, and many a score Of riders did the same, On horse and ass--like high and low And Jack pursuing game! Good Lord! to see the riders now, Thrown off with sudden whirl, A score within the purling brook, Enjoyed their "early purl." A score were sprawling on the grass, And beavers fell in showers; There was another _Floorer_ there Beside the Queen of Flowers! Some lost their stirrups, some their whips, Some had no caps to show; But few, like Charles at Charing Cross, Rode on in _Statue_ quo. "O dear! O dear!" now might you hear, "I've surely broke a bone"; "My head is sore,"--with many more Such speeches from the _thrown_. Howbeit their wailings never moved The wide Satanic clan, Who grinned, as once the Devil grinned, To see the fall of Man. And hunters good, that understood, Their laughter knew no bounds, To see the horses "throwing off," So long before the hounds. For deer must have due course of law, Like men the Courts among; Before those Barristers the dogs Proceed to "giving tongue." And now Old Robin's foes were set That fatal taint to find, That always is scent after him, Yet always left behind. And here observe how dog and man, A different temper shows, What hound resents that he is sent To follow his own nose? Towler and Jowler--howlers all, No single tongue was mute; The stag had led a hart, and lo! The whole pack followed suit. No spur he lacked, fear stuck a knife And fork in either haunch; And every dog he knew had got An eye-tooth to his paunch! Away, away! he scudded like A ship before the gale; Now flew to "_h_ills we know not of," Now, nun-like, took the vale. Another squadron charging now, Went off at furious pitch;-- A perfect Tam o' Shanter mob, Without a single witch. But who was he with flying skirts, A hunter did endorse, And like a poet seemed to ride Upon a winged horse,-- A whipper-in?--no whipper-in: A huntsman? no such soul. A connoisseur, or amateur? Why yes,--a Horse Patrol.