344 RECENT HUNTING TRIPS. 



feeding and rejoined the herd of which he was 

 the leader. 



To get any nearer to him without being seen 

 seemed an absolute impossibility. There was a 

 strong wind blowing, and a storm of sleet and 

 snow was just coming on, so, putting up the 

 three hundred yards' sight and taking a steady 

 aim as I lay flat on the ground, I fired. 



This shot missed the stag, but, as I after- 

 wards found out, chipped a piece out of the 

 side of one of his horns a few inches above 

 the burr. He was lying at the time with his 

 head turned round over his shoulder, so that 

 my shot was in a good line but much too 

 high. 



Immediately I fired he stood up, as did two 

 of the does, but the rest of the herd never 

 moved. 



The snow was now falling thick and fast, and 

 was being driven into my face by the strong 

 wind, but I was afraid that the stag would run 

 off if I waited, so I fired again as quickly as I 

 could, and by great good luck not only hit, but 

 mortaUy wounded, him. I heard the bullet 



