Deer Drivins: in Mull 



301 



the south of the plantation. Soon two hinds 

 broke below the river, but instead of making 

 for the ford of the Knock, and giving me the 

 120-yard chance, they kept the open shore of 

 Loch-na-Gaul, and, contrayy to all precedent, 

 took refuge on the hills of Knock. 



I was testily watching their wilful course, 

 when I heard a step approaching on the near 

 side of the river. In a moment I knew it to 

 be a deer's. A dip in the ground concealed 

 the tramper until a pair of horns rose about 

 30 yards from my hiding. A fairer chance 

 there could not be. He crossed at a trot, 

 and I shot him through the heart. M}- son 

 from his pass had noted this hart the moment 

 he quitted the wood — had marked him con- 

 fidingly choose his way straight for my hiding- 

 place — was well aware that I could not see 

 him until he came slap upon me — and, to 

 crown all, perceived my attention fixed on 

 the hinds. The thrilling suspense did not 

 cease until he saw me present my rifle. This 

 deer weighed 15 stone, but had a poor 

 head. 



The overseer assured us there were two 

 more hinds in the wood, which had " turned 

 back." To give my son his turn, we ex- 

 changed passes, but fortune again favoured 

 me ; the hinds broke at the wood-side for 

 Torlochan, came up the field, and cantered 

 past me at about 60 yards. I rolled over the 

 largest, and if my rifle had been a double- 

 barrel, had an easier chance at her com- 

 panion. 



We now had to choose our stances for a 

 beat of the large hill-wood of Torlochan. 

 Again the most likely pass was awarded to 

 my son, while I chose mine by the side of a 

 detached rock called " the Rock pass." This 

 extensive covert requires to be searched with 

 great care and labour. I heard the shouts 

 of the men — now up the hill, now down, then 

 across — until I was quite tired out ; not a 

 deer seemed to be in the wood. All of a 

 sudden our pack struck up a jarring chorus. 

 At first the chase bore for my son's ambush, 

 but passing it out of range, made for mine. 

 A hind soon shewed herself about 100 yards 

 off. I used my rock for a rest and fired ; 

 the deer staggered, then slowly walked to- 



wards me. When within 40 yards she halted 

 —a lovely chance. Of course I began to 

 load the single barrel. She listened for a 

 moment, then slunk behind the adjoining 

 heights. Taking a circuit for the wind, I 

 came round them, and Avas expecting every 

 instant to come upon the wounded deer, 

 Avhen a fresh pair of hinds turned up at long 

 range on the open heath. Putting up the 

 200-yard sight, I fired the last of my balls ! 

 I saw it miss the deer and strike the hill 

 about a foot before them. After loading 

 with powder, I put my hand into my pocket 

 for the bullet ! ! Here was a fix — for within 

 100 yards of where I threw away my last ball 

 stood the stricken hind. She allowed me to 

 walk within the fairest range, then limped 

 down the hill, taking refuge in the thickets of 

 Garrochree. It was more than an hour ere 

 I could collect my men and dogs, but by 

 that time the scent had cooled, not even the 

 ugly buck deigning to notice it. We searched 

 till dusk, by which time I had come to the 

 conclusion that it is less troublesome to take 

 too many bullets than too few. 



THE GARROCHREE STAG. 



He was a lonely one, caring nothing for 

 company, large, intensely cunning, and carry- 

 ing a royal head. From his partiality to the 

 impervious whins of Garrochree he had gained 

 his title. He never willingly left his fast- 

 ness, except when the flies forced him, re- 

 turning to it whenever the July sun had 

 abated his fierceness. When hunted he ran 

 a ring round and round the thickest under- 

 wood, avoiding every open, and confounding 

 the dogs by the labyrinth of his traces. I 

 have known him dodge about in this manner 

 for half a day, and yet never be once seen 

 either by sportsmen or beaters. The well- 

 known " catch a weasel asleep" might well 

 have been applied to him, and yet this big 

 weasel had been caught napping, but for 

 breaking the proverb nearly paid the forfeit 

 of his life. 



A former tenant of Glenforsa had an eight- 

 barrelled rifle, with which he used to astonish 

 the Mull natives by breaking bottles at 

 fabulous distances, and no doubt he was a 



