BRITISH SPORT PAST AND PRESENT 



his telescope in despair : " They are no here the day," was his 

 remark. " But what is that, Donald ? " said I, pointing to 

 some bluish-looking object I saw at some distance from us 

 rising out of the heather. The glass was turned towards it, 

 and after having been kept motionless for some time, he pro- 

 nounced it to be the head and neck of a hind. I took the glass, 

 and while I was looking at it, I saw a fine stag rise suddenly 

 from some small hollow near her, stretch himself, and lie down 

 again. Presently six more hinds and a two-year-old stag got 

 up, and after walking about for a few minutes, they, one by 

 one, lay down again, but every one seemed to take up a 

 position commanding a view of the whole country. We crept 

 back a few paces, and then getting into the course of the burn, 

 got within three hundred yards of the deer, but by no means 

 whatever could we get nearer. The stag was a splendid fellow, 

 with ten points, and regular and fine-shaped horns. Bran 

 winded them, and watched us most earnestly, as if to ask why 

 we did not try to get at them. The sensible dog, however, 

 kept quite quiet, as if aware of the importance of not being 

 seen or heard. Donald asked me what o'clock it was ; I told 

 him that it was jvist two. " Well, well. Sir, we must just wait 

 here till three o'clock, when the deer will get up to feed, and 

 most likely the brutes will travel towards the burn. The Lord 

 save us, but yon 's a muckle beast." 



' Trusting to his experience, I waited patiently, employing 

 myself in attempting to dry my hose by wringing them, and 

 placing them in the sun. Donald took snuff and watched the 

 deer, and Bran laid his head on his paws as if asleep, but his 

 sharp eye, and ear pricked up on the slightest movement, 

 showed that he was ready for action at a moment's warning. 

 As nearly as possible at three o'clock they did get up to feed : 

 first the hinds rose and cropped a few mouthfuls of the coarse 

 grass near them ; looking at and waiting for their lord and 

 master, who, hoAvever, seemed lazily inclined and would not 

 move ; the young stag fed steadily on towards us. Fre- 

 quently the hinds stopped and turned back to their leader, 



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