WILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS 



beaters deterred him, and after stopping for a moment to 

 deliberate, became back fully determined tocrossthe open- 

 ing, in ordertogain the shelter of some largewoods beyond 

 it. Hewasgallopingacrossit,when crack went another rifle, 

 the ball striking with a splash into a small pool of water close 

 to him, this turned him towards me, and down he came in 

 my direction as hard as he could gallop; he appeared to be 

 comingdirectly at me: just as he was about a hundred yards 

 fromme,a shout from thebeaters,whowerecoming in view, 

 turned him again, and he passed me, going ventre a terre, 

 withhishead up and his horns back over his shoulders, giv- 

 ing me a good broadside shot; I fired, and he reeled, turn- 

 ing half round. Bang went my other barrel, and the stag 

 rolled over like a rabbit, with a force and crash that seemed 

 as if it would have broken every bone in his body. Up he 

 got again, and went off, apparently as sound as ever, into 

 the large wood, passing close to a sportsman who was load- 

 ing; when in the wood, we saw him halt for a moment on a 

 hillock and take a good steady look at us all, who were lost 

 inastonishment at his escape after having been so fairlyup- 

 set. He then went off at a steady swinging gallop, and we 

 heard him long after he was out of view crushing through 

 the dry branches of the young fir-trees. "Bring the dog," 

 was the cry, and a very large animal, something between a 

 mastiff and a St Bernard, was brought; the dog went off for 

 a little while, barking and making a great noise, but after 

 rushing up against half a dozen trees, and tumbling over 

 amongst the hidden stones, he came back limping and un- 

 willing to renew the hunt. I had left my bulldog with a ser- 

 vant at a pointofthewoodsomedistanceoff, and I proposed 



184 



