216 DEER-STALKING. 



where he fell, without a single struggle. I found on opening 

 him that the ball had passed through the lower part of his 

 heart a wound I should have imagined sufficient to have 

 deprived any animal of life and motion instantaneously. But 

 I have shot several deer through the heart, and have observed 

 that when hit low they frequently ran from twenty to eighty 

 yards. If, however, the ball has passed through the upper 

 part of the heart, or has cut the large blood-vessels immedi- 

 ately above it, death has been instantaneous, the animal 

 dropping without a struggle. 



Having duly admired and examined the poor stag, not, I 

 must own, without feeling compunction at having put an end 

 to his life, I set to work bleeding and otherwise preparing 

 him for being left on the hill till the next day, secure from 

 attacks of ravens and eagles ; then, having taken my land- 

 marks, so as to be sure of finding him again, I started on my 

 march to the shepherd's house, looking rather anxiously 

 round at the increasing length of my shadow and the 

 diminished height of the sun ; the more so as I had to pass 

 some very boggy ground with which I was not very well 

 acquainted. I had not gone a quarter of a mile, however, 

 when I saw the shepherd himself making his way homewards. 

 I gave a loud whistle to catch his attention, and, having 

 joined him, I took him back to show the exact place where 

 the stag was lying, in order to save myself the trouble of 

 returning the next day. Malcolm was rather an ally of 

 mine, and his delight was great at seeing the stag. 



"'Deed, aye, sir; it's just the muckle red stag himsel'; 

 mony a time I've seen the bonny beast. Save us ! how red 

 his pile is ! " 



" Yes, he is a fine beast, Malcolm ; and you must bring 

 your grey pony for him to-morrow. I must have the head 

 and one haunch down to the house : take the rest to your 

 mother ; I dare say she can salt it." 



1 knew pretty well that this good lady must have had 

 some experience in making red deer hams, unless Malcolm 

 was very much slandered by his neighbours ; nevertheless he 

 had promised me not to poach on rny ground, and knowing 

 that I trusted quite to his honour, I believe that he neither 

 did so himself nor allowed any one else to do so. 



" You are ower good, your honour ; and the mither will be 

 glad of a bit venison ; it's a long time now since I killed a 

 deer." 



