128 RECENT HUNTING TRIPS. 



and a fawn jump out of a patch of forest into 

 the open marsh about one hundred and fifty- 

 yards to our left and a little behind us. As 

 my companion and I were also in the open 

 ground and were moving, they, of course, at once 

 saw us and stood looking towards us. 



Whilst watching them I saw another doe or 

 very young stag in the bush behind, and imme- 

 diately afterwards a great stag with white neck 

 and broadly palmated antlers loomed big 

 amongst the dark shadows of the spruce trees. 

 The doe and fawn which had first come out 

 into the open now commenced to trot slowly 

 forwards, but soon stopped, and again stood 

 looking at the strange objects which had 

 alarmed them, while the big stag with its 

 smaller companion came trotting slowly in 

 their tracks. 



The old stag looked really grand, and I lost 

 no time in firing at him as he was moving across 

 the open marshy ground about one himdred and 

 fifty yards away from me. My cartridge, how- 

 ever, hung fire for some time after the cap 

 exploded, and Avhen the shot finally went off 



