2 6o AFTER DEER 



and turn inland towards the more sheltered feeding- 

 grounds, heavy masses of mist are hanging from the 

 rocks and wrapping the hills in their dripping folds. 

 Outlying wreaths come rolling down the steeps, and 

 steal ghost-like along the bottoms of the valleys. 

 The gull that floats past overhead looms through 

 the haze large as an albatross ; and the mountain 

 hare that jerks himself by easy stages up the hill in 

 front might well pass for a roe, were it not for his 

 characteristic action. And deer there are, and not far 

 to seek ; for a roar sounds out of the gloom, and 

 fainter and fainter is bandied backwards and forwards 

 between the mountain echoes. It is also taken up by 

 some rival in flesh and blood, who desires nothing 

 better than to accept the challenge. And just then, 

 as we stop to reconcert our strategy, down drops the 

 wind ; and simultaneously, and as if they had been 

 watching their opportunity, the heavens empty them- 

 selves out upon us in a succession of falling sheets 

 of water. The sporting council adjourns in undignified 

 haste to the shelter of a convenient rock ; whereupon 

 the waterspout ceases abruptly as it commenced, having 

 converted into a brawling young torrent the modest 

 brook that, stealing from pool to pool, came trickling 

 down the mountain side. Then the sun actually comes 

 struggling out, although he looks drenched and watery 

 like everything else around. Much of the mist has 

 been washed away, although there is still a good deal 

 floating about, and we decide to mount to the col above 

 by that natural staircase where the stream is tumbling 



