"Fly for thy life"

Walking on the South Downs Way today, we were twice passed by a huge tractor pulling a trailer full of men with guns en route to a shoot. Not long afterwards, we started to see deer fleeing from the general direction taken by the tractor. Too far away for a good picture, but this on the skyline shows them at full stretch. They can certainly travel at speed when they need to. I think it was a pheasant shoot, but how were the deer to know.

The South Downs Way follows the entire chalk ridge of the Downs from Winchester to Eastbourne, 100 mile path for walkers, cyclists and horse riders.


The Wild Deer


Fly for thy life, fleet, frightened crature, fly!
Fly for thy life, or thou art doomed to die!
Swift in thy track, the hounds, thy hoof-prints scent,
Faster and faster, on their prey intent.
O, pause not in the grassy dingle now,
Nor think to rest upon the mountain's brow;
For life and liberty, thy speed increase!


Martha Lavinia Hoffman (1865-1900)