BRITISH SPORT PAST AND PRESENT 



the left of the spot where we stood, and rather behind us ; but, 

 being closely pursued by the dogs, he soon found that his only 

 safety was in speed ; and (as a deer does not run well up hill, 

 nor, like a roe, straight down hill), on the dogs approaching 

 him, he turned, and almost retraced his footsteps, taking, 

 however, a steeper line of descent than the one by which he 

 ascended. Here the chase became more interesting ; the dogs 

 pressed him hard, and the deer, getting confused, found himself 

 suddenly on the brink of a small precipice, of about fourteen 

 feet in height, from the bottom of which there sloped a rugged 

 mass of stones. He paused for a moment, as if afraid to take 

 the leap, but the dogs were so close that he had no alternative. 

 ' At this time the party were not above 150 yards distant, 

 and most anxiously waited the result, fearing, from the rugged- 

 ness of the ground below, that the deer would not survive 

 the leap. They were, however, soon relieved from their 

 anxiety ; for though he took the leap, he did so more cunningly 

 than gallantly, dropping himself in the most singular manner, 

 so that his hind-legs first reached the broken rocks below : nor 

 were the dogs long in following him ; Buskar sprang first, and 

 extraordinary to relate, did not lose his legs ; Bran followed, 

 and on reaching the ground, performed a complete summerset ; 

 he soon, however, recovered his legs ; and the chase was con- 

 tinued in an oblique direction down the side of a most rugged 

 and rocky brae, the deer apparently more fresh and nimble 

 than ever, jumping through the rocks like a goat, and the dogs 

 well up, though occasionally receiving the most fearful falls. 

 From the high position in which we were placed, the chase was 

 visible for nearly half a mile. When some rising ground 

 intercepted our view, we made with all speed for a higher point, 

 and, on reaching it, we could perceive that the dogs, having 

 got upon smooth ground, had gained on the deer, who was 

 still going at speed, and were close up with him. Bran was 

 then leading, and in a few seconds was at his heels, and im- 

 mediately seized his hock with such violence of grasp, as seemed 

 in a great measure to paralyse the limb, for the deer's speed 



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