Chapter 346: The White Stag
On April 25, 1913, Friday, clear skies.
As the time entered autumn in Australasia, the once-a-year hunting season had arrived for Arthur. From April, the temperatures in Australia would drop to around 15 to 20 degrees Celsius, making it the perfect weather for hunting and outdoor activities. Moreover, since Australasia didn't have many large carnivores, the biggest carnivore was the Australian wild dog. Aside from the poisonous snakes and insects that might be hidden deep in the forests, hunting in Australasia was a rather safe and enjoyable activity.
It's important to note that according to later data, Australia has 378 species of mammals, 828 species of birds, 4,000 species of fish, 300 species of lizards, 140 species of snakes, 2 species of crocodiles, and around 50 species of marine mammals. Over 80% of the mammals, reptiles, and amphibians are unique to Australia. Some of the most famous animals include kangaroos, koalas, echidnas, Australian wild dogs, platypuses, sand wallabies, and wombats.
With such a variety of animal species, and the pristine forests and grasslands that have been minimally affected by pollution, hunting in Australia became a relatively easy task.
This time, Arthur chose a hunting location in a rural estate in New South Wales. The Capital Territory didn't have much land, and with the continuous expansion of Sydney, the forests and vegetation in the Capital Territory had been damaged to some extent. In comparison, the more expansive New South Wales and Victoria were better suited for hunting.
Currently, Arthur frequently visited these two states, and in the deep mountains of both, there were countryside villas specifically built for hunting. Though called countryside villas, their scale was considerable, with enough space to house several dozen people. As for the guards accompanying Arthur, they could only sleep in tents outside the villa.
This hunting trip was special because Arthur brought William and Anna along. Besides giving them a chance to relax from their studies, he also wanted them to experience the natural beauty of Australasia and witness the lives of the lower-class people of Australasia.
As the royal family of Australasia was of European royal descent, they naturally followed European traditions and customs. For European aristocrats, hunting was a normal part of their daily life. Besides women, horse racing, military affairs, and gambling, hunting was the preferred entertainment for the European nobility.
Arthur held Anna in his arms, riding a tall and handsome white Victorian Kent horse, while William was held by Kent, walking closely behind Arthur. Surrounding Arthur were hundreds of guards. Since they hadn't reached the hunting grounds yet, there was no rush or concern about wasting time.
"Father, what is that?"
"Father, what is that?"
Arthur's most frequent conversation on this trip was answering Anna's curious questions. Though she was almost four years old, William and Anna's longest trip had only been to meet Arthur at the Sydney port. Now, leaving the Capital Territory and embarking on this hunting trip, the two little ones were incredibly excited. They pointed at the flowers, plants, and wild animals they saw along the way, asking Arthur about them with curiosity.
Arthur couldn't help but marvel at the diverse wildlife in Australasia. Along the journey, he had already seen dozens of wild animals and various types of plants. Luckily, Kent was knowledgeable about these things, and whenever Arthur was unsure about the species, he could ask Kent for clarification.
It was understandable, of course. Arthur wasn't a professional botanist or zoologist. His hunting trips usually only happened once or twice a year, and each time, they lasted just a couple of weeks. With his busy political duties, it was difficult for him to learn everything about the flora and fauna of Australasia.
While traveling from Sydney to New South Wales, they rode in a car, but once they entered the forests of New South Wales, it became clear that cars were no longer practical. Under Arthur's orders, the hunting party switched to horseback and headed deeper into the forest toward the villa.
Before Arthur's arrival, a group of guards had already gone ahead to inspect the villa. Although forest villas like this one typically had a small detachment of guards stationed year-round and a few servants for cleaning, for Arthur's safety, it was still necessary to send an advanced team to clear the path and ensure everything was secure.
Arthur, who had only recently become a duke, had been a poor shot before he arrived in Australasia. But after frequent hunting trips, his shooting skills had become quite proficient. Every hunting trip had brought in some success. For Arthur, the value of the animals he hunted wasn't important. What mattered was the experience of the hunt itself.
Having the entire royal consortium at his disposal, Arthur didn't care too much about the animals he hunted. Occasionally tasting wild game was nice, but the main purpose of this trip was to get to the villa. That said, it was impossible to leave without some animals, especially in a place so rich in wildlife.
During the journey, the hunting party encountered several wild deer and rabbits, all of which were successfully captured.
It's worth mentioning that the wild rabbits in Australasia are incredibly large and reproduce at an astounding rate. According to future data, by the early 20th century, Australia's wild rabbit population reached an astonishing number of billions, many times the population of Australia at that time.
Though the rabbit problem had become less severe under Arthur's policies, the large population of wild rabbits continued to be a serious issue for Australasia. They accelerated the desertification and land degradation in the region. The good news was that the wild rabbits in Australia at this time didn't yet carry the dangerous viruses and bacteria that would later be introduced by various rabbit eradication policies.
After traveling for over half an hour, they finally reached the villa deep in the New South Wales forest. It was a beautiful location, but not easily accessible. The guards stationed here would rotate every two months to avoid becoming bored in such a remote place.
Once the team settled in, Arthur, along with Kent, William, Anna, and a few dozen guards, went out in search of a good hunting spot.
While Australasia was filled with a variety of wildlife, Arthur's hunting targets were never the common animals. He preferred large, rare, or more exotic species. After all, there was no need for Arthur to travel all the way to New South Wales just to hunt common animals.
Hunting freely in the vast forests and grasslands was much more comfortable than hunting in a confined space. Thanks to Australasia's vast land and sparse population, hunting locations were almost everywhere. Hunting had become a popular recreational activity and a source of additional food for the people of Australasia.
In Australasia, hunting was even a way to entertain guests. For European nobility, hunting in such a vast place was far more enjoyable than hunting in some small forests in Europe.
After riding through the forest for some time without finding anything that caught Arthur's interest, he was about to give up and return to the villa when suddenly, a prominent flash of white in the jungle immediately caught his eye.
"Kent, is that a white stag?" Arthur asked, excited.
The white stag, a rare wild animal, held great symbolic meaning in both the East and the West. In the East, deer were highly symbolic, and the term "hunting the deer" represented a pursuit that was deeply embedded in the cultural meaning of deer.
In the West, especially in European mythology, the white stag had special significance. It was often linked with the unicorn, and medieval depictions of the white stag often showed it with a crown around its neck, symbolizing royalty.
In Celtic times, the white stag was believed to be a messenger from another world, appearing when sacred laws were broken. In Arthurian legend, the white stag was always elusive, symbolizing humanity's pursuit of the unattainable, such as the knightly ideal.
Arthur, while a Protestant, recognized the significant meaning of the white stag. It was a symbol of luck, divine favor, and recognition by God.
"Yes, Your Majesty. Such a white stag is indeed a rare sight, even if it's not the white deer, it's certainly worth seeing." Kent, following Arthur's gaze, quickly spotted the prominent white shape in the jungle.
Once confirmed that it was indeed a white stag, Kent seemed somewhat excited, even unusually certain as he spoke to Arthur.
Arthur nodded, fully aware of the significance of capturing a white stag, especially a white deer. Although religion no longer held the same special place in the 20th century, faith still played a major role in Europe and around the world. The publicity surrounding such an event would not only bring Arthur great prestige but would also add a layer of mystery to his identity and position.
For such a rare white stag, it was impossible to let it go without capturing it. However, killing it outright would be a waste. Arthur turned to his men and ordered them to bring a specially modified hunting rifle.
This rifle had a smaller caliber and less destructive power. As long as the vital areas weren't hit, the animal wouldn't be killed. Of course, the rifle would still cause significant injury, and shooting its limbs would prevent the stag from escaping.
Arthur took a deep breath, focused, and aimed at the white stag, which was dozens of meters away.
Luckily, when Arthur had spotted the stag, the team had already stopped moving, and under Arthur's signal, they concealed themselves. Despite the slight noise, the white stag was not startled.
Bang!
The sharp sound of the gunshot echoed, and the white stag's front leg was instantly hit. The massive wound and the intense pain caused the stag to cry out and struggle to stand, attempting to flee. Despite the injury to its leg, the wound was severe enough to disable the stag.
Seeing the white stag unable to move, Arthur had no intention of shooting again. He, along with Kent and a few guards, moved closer to capture the stag alive.
"Truly robust, it should be a white stag," Kent remarked, observing the large antlers and muscular body of the stag.
"Doctor?" Arthur called out as he approached the stag, looking at the wounded animal, "Please bandage its wounds."
The doctor, though not a veterinarian, was more than capable of tending to the stag's injuries. As a specialist from the royal palace's private hospital, his skills in emergency surgery and bandaging were among the best.
After the doctor tended to the stag, it would be transported back to the villa. Arthur was insistent that it must be healthy.
The medical expert's salary, being in the thousands of Australian dollars, was a small price for the royal family to pay. For Arthur, such expenses were negligible.
Although the capture of the white stag had already met Arthur's expectations for the hunt, they were not going to return just yet. The two little ones hadn't had enough, and returning now would be a letdown.
After ensuring that the stag was cared for, Arthur and his team continued to search for more hunting grounds.
(End of Chapter)
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