NEW ZEALAND DEER-STALKING 125 



gentlemen always do, and made the dual announce- 

 ment " that the devilled kidneys were ready ; and 

 that he had ventured to put out his lordship's grey 

 lounging suit and sapphire-coloured tie," preparatory, 

 I suppose, to a morning call on the lady, when I heard 

 Buckley's whistle at a short distance, and looking up 

 saw him making frantic signals to me to join him. 

 I lost all interest in hearing the sequel of the valet's 

 remarkable message, and, picking up my rifle, and 

 hastily shoving the glass into its case, made my way 

 over the tussocky grass as quickly as possible. 



" Come on quick," hissed Buckley ; and then, in a 

 hoarse whisper, " he's there ! " 



It was needless to inquire who " he " was, so I 

 contented myself with the laconic question " How 

 far ? " receiving the equally laconic reply " A hundred." 



" A hind's seen me ! " I heard over my shoulder, 

 and mentally consigning the hind to perdition, I 

 peered over the knoll before us. A hind, within fifty 

 yards of the knoll, was making preparations to de- 

 camp ; a little higher up the hill was a huddled group, 

 consisting of the remainder of the harem and their 

 offspring, all staring in our direction ; all by himself, 

 thirty yards distant from them, was a stag, the 

 afternoon sun glinting on his tops, the whole making 

 a picture it was worth climbing a dozen hills to have 

 seen. There was no time to lose, for he was broadside 

 on, offering a splendid chance. As I fired, he gave a 

 bound, galloped forty yards down the hill, stopped, 

 and then his legs collapsing, went rolling down a tiny 



