WILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS 



the rocks, soared croaking over us for some time. A pair or 

 two of old grouse were all we killed here. But the view from 

 the summit was splendidly wild as we looked over a long 

 range of grey rocks, beyond which lay awide and extensive 

 lake, with several small islands in it. The opposite shore of 

 the lake was fringed with birch-trees, and in the distance 

 were a line of lofty mountainswhose sharp peaks were cov- 

 ered with snow. Human habitation or evidence of the pres- 

 ence of man was there not, and no sound broke the silence 

 of the solitudeexceptingthe croak of the ravens andthe oc- 

 casional whistle of a plover. "Yon is a fine corrie for deer," 

 said Donald, making me start, as he broke myreverie, and 

 pointing out a fine amphitheatre of rocks just below us. 

 Not being on the look-out for deer, however, I did not pay 

 much attention to what he said, but allowed the dogs to 

 range on where theyliked. Left to themselves, and notfind- 

 ing much game, they hunted wide, and we had been walk- 

 ing in silence for some time, when on coming round a small 

 rise between us and the dogs, I saw two fine stags standing, 

 who, mtent on watching the dogs, did not see us. After 

 standing motionless for a minute, the deer walked deliber- 

 ately towards us, not observing us until they were within 

 forty yards; they then suddenly halted, stared at us, snorted, 

 and then went off at a trot, but soon breaking into a gallop, 

 fledrapidlyaway,butwere in sight for a longdistance. Shot 

 stood watching the deer for some time, but at last seeing 

 that we took no steps against them, looked at me, and then 

 went on hunting. We killed several more grouse and a 

 brace of teal. Towards the afternoon we struck off to the 

 shepherd's house. In the fringe of a birch that sheltered it, 



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