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husband.
    Completely hidden in the thicket an older, weaker stag lurked in ambush, waiting to see whether in a lucky moment he could steal one of the seven, but at the same time ready for flight.
    The does listened to Tambo, faithfully admiring him, but at the same time prepared to desert him should another woo them.
    When one started to slip off into the bush, Tambo leaped over and drove the fugitive back to her place with a few admonishing blows with his antlers. She accepted the punishment without protest.
    Tambo bayed in triumph.
    Deep and continuous in the near distance sounded the baying of an old stag. It rose in a clearer, higher sound, fell off and began again at once. This new voice drowned out all others. It was a challenge to a struggle, a mockery of the weak and cowardly, and a proud wooing. Tambo cocked his head to listen.
    That, Martin realized, must be the giant King who, a few years before, had carried fourteen points, but had recently reverted to ten. Now his big crown ended in long, blank spears which shone like ivory.
    His baying grew closer. The other stags were silent, frightened and tense. Tambo waited as the great voice came.
    Martin felt anxious. In spite of his aversion for killing, he almost hoped thatPeter was at hand, to shoot the old warrior in Tambo’s defense if necessary.
    And then the old stag appeared at the edge of the thicket. He stood motionless for a second, before he plunged berserk at Tambo.
    Tambo seemed about to sacrifice himself, so close did he let the old one come. With swift agility, he executed a slight turn and lowered his crown a bit.
    Dully the two heads crashed. At once, with a somewhat sharper sound, the antlers knocked together.
    Each fighter strained against the other, snorting, putting forth his entire strength. Their eyes were bloodshot. They breathed in short gasps. The old stag jumped backward.
    As the pressure against him withdrew suddenly, Tambo stumbled forward. This, the watching Martin knew, was the moment of greatest danger.
    But before the old one could drive his horns into Tambo’s exposed flank, a shot rang out!
    Martin saw the mighty stag leap into the air once and again; saw his eyes open wide with amazement; saw his convulsive staggering;saw death force down into the wilted meadow grass a great animal that just now had been full of life.
    The does had disappeared. Tambo too had vanished.
    Martin, shaken and trembling, met Peter by the old stag’s body, looked down into the dead eyes which shimmered glassy green. He heard Peter mutter, “I didn’t want to shoot you down, old fellow, but I had to.”
    Martin sighed. “That’s how it always is! Age dies that youth may live.”
    â€œDon’t feel too badly about him,” said Peter. “His end came at a moment of victory. And it was sudden. Better than if he’d had to die slowly, like other senile animals. He’d have been dethroned, and wandered around humiliated. He’d have died gradually with great suffering. Now he’s been spared that.”
    Yet his mood of depression continued as Martin wandered home.

Chapter 12
    J UST BEFORE DAWN ONE LATE fall morning the roe Genina, with her two kids, came to the Forest Lodge. They stepped gingerly around the house, where the human beings were still sleeping. Treff pricked up his ears, but did not bark.
    The roes wandered toward the stable where the doors opened at the slightest touch. Followed by both her young, Genina stepped into the warm space which was filled with the odor of sleeping animals.
    â€œIt’s pleasant here,” said Genina to her children. “Let’s stay. We’ll be safe.”
    Manni stood up quickly at the sound and stared in amazement at the intruders. “Look! Look!” he cried to his sleeping companions. “The wild ones from the forest!” He went toward Genina, still unbelieving. “Why did you leave the forest? Anything wrong there?”
    The others