'DEER -DRIVING IN MULL. 41 



hinds in the wood, which had " turned back." To 

 give my son his turn, \ve exchanged passes, but 

 fortune again favoured me : the hinds broke at the 

 wood-side for Torlochan, came up the field, and 

 cantered past me at about 60 yards. I rolled over 

 the largest, and if my rifle had been a double-bar- 

 rel, had an easier chance at her companion. 



We now had to choose our stances for a beat of 

 the large hill-wood of Torlochan. Again the most 

 likely pass was awarded to my son, while I chose 

 mine by the side of a detached rock called " the 

 Eock pass." This extensive covert requires to be 

 searched with great care and labour. I heard the 

 shouts of the men now up the hill, now down, 

 then across until I was quite tired out ; not a 

 deer seemed to be in the wood. All of a sudden 

 our pack struck up a jarring chorus. At first the 

 chase bore for my son's ambush, but passing it out 

 of range, made for mine. A hind soon showed 

 herself about 100 yards off. I used my rock for a 

 rest and fired ; the deer staggered, then slowly 

 walked towards me. When within 40 yards she 

 halted a lovely chance. Of course I began to 

 load the single barrel. She listened for a moment, 



