.^00 



The Country Gentleman's jUagazim 



field, at the top of which, under cover of a 

 drain, is placed the rifle. The Knock pass 

 is far the most certain, not only as command- 

 ing two escapes, but also from being more 

 used by the deer. 



On the second afternoon, my son, having 

 completed his arrangements, agreed with the 

 manager, that as the deer would be nearly 

 certain to break cover at the Knock pass, 

 there could be no harm in giving this patch 

 an afternoon trial. Of the two chances com- 

 manded by the Knock pass, one is exactly 

 1 20 yards, the other about 30. It is impos- 

 sible to equalize the distances without sacri- 

 ficing one of the chances. 



Yarrow's shrill yelp in the plantation soon 

 warned my son that the manager had found 

 deer. A large stag broke on the lower side 

 of the river, came softly round the knolls, and 

 made for the 120 yards' pass. Here he had 

 to cross the water, but seemed in no hurry to 

 wet his feet. The collie had not yet left the 

 wood, and the hart listened and watched to 

 see when he did. All this time the deer, 

 being in a slanting posture, my son refrained 

 from firing, well aware the moment he at- 

 tempted to ford he must present a fair broad- 

 side. Black Yarrow now flitted from the 

 covert, and the stag cautiously waded into 

 the stream. Crack goes the rifle, down came 

 the deer on his knees — recovered, and began 

 to hobble across the current. A shot from 

 the second barrel and he toppled over in 

 mid-stream. 



The first act after killing a deer is to exa- 

 mine where the ball has hit him. This time 

 there were two marks through the brisket, on 

 the opposite side to the shooter, but only one 

 on the near side; it was therefore apparent 

 that both balls had entered at the same hole. 

 Considering the distance, this was therefore a 

 beautiful right and left rifle shot. The weight 

 of this deer was 18 stone, and he had a very 

 good head for Mull. I was much pleased 

 with this auspicious start ; the more so as the 

 manager saw more deer in the wood, which 

 he had refrained from disturbing. 



Dogs thoroughly trained to drive deer 

 coverts, even when running a hot scent, 

 should be taught immediately to quit it, and 



return to their master at his whistle. The 

 reason is obvious. When the deer are through 

 the passes, further pursuit by a dog only tires 

 /'/;;/ and scares the deer further away. As 

 soon, therefore, as the quarry before them are 

 past the rifles, the dogs should be called 

 back into the covert to find a fresh track. 

 Often a stray hart or hind turn back by facing 

 the drivers, and remain quietly hid until the 

 wood is searched a second time. An old 

 Mull collie, which once aided our drive, Avas 

 so knowing, that of his own accord he re- 

 turned to his master whenever the deer had 

 escaped the shooters. This sagacious crea- 

 ture knew every ambush guarding the wood, 

 and as soon as the deer were out of danger, 

 quite comprehended that it was useless to 

 follow Avhere there were no rifles to kill. 



Our cover pack consisted of two pure-bred 

 Mull collies, and a mongrel sheep dog, which 

 looked like a cross between the old Scotch 

 cur and a jackal. The island pair were inis- 

 named Trim and Yarrow by their Tweedside 

 master (my farm grieve), but the nonde- 

 script was more aptly styled " the Ugly Buck." 

 He was a cross-grained, eccentric, unsociable, 

 surly brute— had to have his teeth broken for 

 biting the sheep— would follow or obey no 

 one but his shepherd master, and when fairly 

 "blooded" at deer, considered himself dis- 

 charged from the meaner duties of sheep. 

 Although Trim and Yarrow had good noses, 

 and stuck well to their track, yet somehow I 

 always felt most certain of a shot when the 

 covert rung wdth the wolf-like howl of the 

 Ugly Buck. 



The day after my landing in Mull was 

 pouring rain, but the following brightened up 

 again. Scarcely expecting above one chance, 

 I only put four bullets in my pocket, and 

 took a single-barrel seal-rifle, which fitted me 

 exactly. 



The manager, his two Mull shepherds, and 

 their three dogs, were sent to the far end of 

 the Knock plantation, while I guarded " the 

 Knock pass," and my son watched the other 

 escape to Torlochan wood. The dogs had 

 hardly been thrown into covert when they 

 opened full cry. I distinctly heard the hunt 

 begin at the north end, and gradually near 



