WOUNDED STAG. 227 



sat down with the two dogs in full view of the pool, in order 

 to keep the attention of the stag occupied. 



" Now then, Donald, take care ; don't be in a hurry, and 

 hit him in the heart or the head." 



" No fear, no fear ; if I put out," said Donald, " ye needna 

 mind, the beast is as gude as killed already." 



Then taking a prodigious spoonful of snuff to clear his 

 brain, and divesting himself of his game-bag and other en- 

 cumbrances, he set off. He reached a mound within thirty 

 yards of the stag, and lying flat on his stomach, with his rifle 

 resting on the bank, he aimed long and steadily ; then, with 

 sundry kicks and contortions, screwing himself into an 

 attitude that pleased him more, he took another aim, and 

 then a good strong pull at the trigger but in vain, as he had 

 not cocked the rifle. Without taking it off the rest over the 

 bank, he pulled back the hammer and fired instantly, missing 

 the stag entirely. Donald was too astonished to move ; but 

 not so the stag, who jumped up and made off going, how- 

 ever, so stiffly and lamely, that I saw the dogs must bring 

 him to immediately. So I let them go, and in a very short 

 time they had the poor beast on the ground, and were both 

 fixed on him like leeches, the bull-dog on his throat, and the 

 pointer worrying at his shoulder. 



" Bravo, Donald ; well missed ! " I could not help calling 

 out as I passed him, running as hard as I could to help the 

 dogs. The old man was not long in joining me ; and the 

 dogs were soon got off. The stag was bled, and then, 

 examined all over to see where he had been struck. 



"'Deed, Sir," said Donald, pointing to the rifle, "she is as 

 gleg and kittle to handle as " 



Here he paused as if at a dead loss for a simile ; which I 

 was obliged to help him to at last by suggesting, " As your 

 own wife, Donald." At which he indulged in a low inward 

 chuckle and a pinch of snuff, without, however, denying the 

 " soft impeachment." 



On looking at the stag, we found that he had evidently 

 been very lately shot at, and that one of his forelegs was 

 broken above the knee the bone smashed entirely, and the 

 leg hanging on by the skin, which would have soon worn 

 through ; the animal, having lost the incumbrance of the 

 broken limb, would soon, if left in quiet, have entirely re- 

 covered. We prepared our game for being " left till called 

 for," and sat down to our luncheon. My account to Donald 



