 her dress, however, as
well as the mettle and form of her palfrey, together with the silvan compliment
paid to her by the huntsman, pointed her out to Bucklaw as the principal person
in the field. It was not without a feeling of pity, approaching even to
contempt, that this enthusiastic hunter observed her refuse the huntsman's
knife, presented to her for the purpose of making the first incision in the
stag's breast, and thereby discovering the quality of the venison. He felt more
than half inclined to pay his compliments to her; but it had been Bucklaw's
misfortune, that his habits of life had not rendered him familiarly acquainted
with the higher and better classes of female society, so that, with all his
natural audacity, he felt sheepish and bashful when it became necessary to
address a lady of distinction.
    Taking unto himself heart of grace (to use his own phrase), he did at length
summon up resolution enough to give the fair huntress good time of the day, and
trust that her sport had answered her expectation. Her answer was very
courteously and modestly expressed, and testified some gratitude to the gallant
cavalier, whose exploit had terminated the chase so adroitly, when the hounds
and huntsmen seemed somewhat at a stand.
    »Uds daggers and scabbard, madam,« said Bucklaw, whom this observation
brought at once upon his own ground, »there is no difficulty or merit in that
matter at all, so that a fellow is not too much afraid of having a pair of
antlers in his guts. I have hunted at force five hundred times, madam; and I
never yet saw the stag at bay, by land or water, but I durst have gone roundly
in on him. It is all use and wont, madam; and I'll tell you, madam, for all
that, it must be done with good heed and caution; and you will do well, madam,
to have your hunting-sword both right sharp and double-edged, that you may
strike either fore-handed or back-handed, as you see reason, for a hurt with a
buck's horn is a perilous and somewhat venomous matter.«
    »I am afraid, sir,« said the young lady, and her smile was scarce concealed
by her vizard, »I shall have little use for such careful preparation.«
    »But the gentleman says very right for all that, my lady,« said an old
huntsman, who had listened to Bucklaw's harangue with no small edification; »and
I have heard my father
