passed the path that led to the Temple. He decided there was just time for a closer look at it before tea. The path looked almost newâit must have been re-gravelled just before the war with reddish chippings which crunched beneath his leather soles. The noise offended him after his efforts at stealth, so he deliberately picked his way up on the grass verge until he came to a small paved platform from which stone steps rose to the building. This stood on a small mound and was no more than a dome supported by eight pillars with a statue on a pedestal at the centre. As Paul was climbing the steps a stag roared close by. Thrilled by the nearness of the sound, he stole up the steps and under the dome, using the statue itself for cover. He peered carefully round the billowing marble drapery.
He saw at once that the mound on which the Temple stood must have been artificial, made by scooping earth out from the southern slope of the ridge and piling it up here. It had been done that way on purpose so that immediately below the Temple there was now a small grassy arena in which some deer were grazing, about five hinds, some half-grown fawns, and a big stag which at the moment had its back to Paul and was bellowing its challenge down over the far rim of the arena. It was gloriously posed, with the lake beyond it. The slope below the temple was as steep as the roof of a house, impossible to sneak down unnoticed, but there was plenty of bracken on either side and it might have been possible to worm nearer by going back down the steps and making a flanking attack. No time for that before tea, though, so Paul simply stood and watched.
He wasnât aware of having made any sound or movement to attract the animalâs attention, but suddenly a head came up, and then another. The stag wheeled and stared. An instant later the whole troop was off over the rim, out of sight, crashing away through the bracken.
Paul looked at the statue before he left. It was a woman, Diana, probably, because she had a bow and arrows slung at her back. In her left hand she was holding up a crescent moon. You couldnât see whether she was beautiful because her face was so streaked with bird-droppings.
Next Sunday Paul got involved in a game of Monopoly which went on so long that there was no time for exploration, and the Wednesday after he was in a football practice which didnât end till the afternoon was half over. Still, there was time to have a go at the Temple deer again, so he took his gun, walked down East Drive and up beside the gravel path, as before. This time, however, instead of climbing the steps he turned off to the right. The bracken grew thickly here, but there were paths through it, made by the deer, probably. He picked his way along, crouching low and taking slow, small steps, crawled over the ridge, and then crept back along the other side towards the arena. Everything was quiet. The stag didnât roar once. Paul was very patient. It must have taken him half an hour to do the circuit because whenever he made the slightest rustle he stood quite still and counted to a hundred before moving on again, but when at last, now worming his way forward on his stomach, he lifted his head to look down into the arena, it was empty.
Disappointed but not unhappy, because he felt it had been a good practice stalk, he walked down the other pathâa track, really, narrow and rough, without any gravelâtowards the lake and then back along the lake path. He was just reaching the chestnut grove when he saw half a dozen deer coming along by the shore at a fastish trot. Quickly he slipped down through the trees and stopped behind one at the edge. Already he could hear the rapid soft tapping of hooves. He held his breath. The stag came past, only ten feet away, not looking particularly concerned. Presumably because Paul was standing still it did not seem to notice him, but trotted on without check. Five hinds followed in a close group, and
He saw at once that the mound on which the Temple stood must have been artificial, made by scooping earth out from the southern slope of the ridge and piling it up here. It had been done that way on purpose so that immediately below the Temple there was now a small grassy arena in which some deer were grazing, about five hinds, some half-grown fawns, and a big stag which at the moment had its back to Paul and was bellowing its challenge down over the far rim of the arena. It was gloriously posed, with the lake beyond it. The slope below the temple was as steep as the roof of a house, impossible to sneak down unnoticed, but there was plenty of bracken on either side and it might have been possible to worm nearer by going back down the steps and making a flanking attack. No time for that before tea, though, so Paul simply stood and watched.
He wasnât aware of having made any sound or movement to attract the animalâs attention, but suddenly a head came up, and then another. The stag wheeled and stared. An instant later the whole troop was off over the rim, out of sight, crashing away through the bracken.
Paul looked at the statue before he left. It was a woman, Diana, probably, because she had a bow and arrows slung at her back. In her left hand she was holding up a crescent moon. You couldnât see whether she was beautiful because her face was so streaked with bird-droppings.
Next Sunday Paul got involved in a game of Monopoly which went on so long that there was no time for exploration, and the Wednesday after he was in a football practice which didnât end till the afternoon was half over. Still, there was time to have a go at the Temple deer again, so he took his gun, walked down East Drive and up beside the gravel path, as before. This time, however, instead of climbing the steps he turned off to the right. The bracken grew thickly here, but there were paths through it, made by the deer, probably. He picked his way along, crouching low and taking slow, small steps, crawled over the ridge, and then crept back along the other side towards the arena. Everything was quiet. The stag didnât roar once. Paul was very patient. It must have taken him half an hour to do the circuit because whenever he made the slightest rustle he stood quite still and counted to a hundred before moving on again, but when at last, now worming his way forward on his stomach, he lifted his head to look down into the arena, it was empty.
Disappointed but not unhappy, because he felt it had been a good practice stalk, he walked down the other pathâa track, really, narrow and rough, without any gravelâtowards the lake and then back along the lake path. He was just reaching the chestnut grove when he saw half a dozen deer coming along by the shore at a fastish trot. Quickly he slipped down through the trees and stopped behind one at the edge. Already he could hear the rapid soft tapping of hooves. He held his breath. The stag came past, only ten feet away, not looking particularly concerned. Presumably because Paul was standing still it did not seem to notice him, but trotted on without check. Five hinds followed in a close group, and
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