DEER -DRIVING IN MULL. 37 



came softly round the knolls, and made for the 120 

 yards pass. Here he had to cross the water, but 

 seemed in no hurry to wet his feet. The collie 

 had not yet left the wood, and the hart listened 

 and watched lo see when he did. All this time, 

 the deer being in a slanting posture, my son re- 

 frained from firing, well aware that the moment he 

 attempted to ford he must present a fair broadside. 

 Black Yarrow now flitted from the covert, and the 

 stag cautiously waded into the stream. Crack 

 goes the rifle, down came the deer on his knees 

 recovered, and began to hobble across the current. 

 A shot from the second barrel and he toppled over 

 in mid-stream. 



The first act after killing a deer is to examine 

 where the ball has hit him. This time, there were 

 two marks through the brisket, on the opposite 

 side to the shooter, but only one on the near side ; 

 it was therefore apparent that both balls had 

 entered at the same hole. Considering the dis- 

 tance, this was therefore a beautiful right and left 

 rifle shot. The weight of this deer was 18 stone, 

 and he had a very good head for Mull. I was 

 much pleased with this auspicious start ; the more 



