WILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS 



it, I saw a fine stag rise suddenly from some small hollow 

 near her, stretch himself, and lie down again. Presently 

 six more hinds, and a two-year old stag got up, and after 

 walking about for a few minutes, they, one by one, lay 

 down again, but every one seemed to take up a position 

 commanding a view of the whole country. We crept back a 

 few paces, and then getting into the course of the burn, got 

 within three hundred yards of the deer, but by no means 

 whatever could we get nearer. The stag was a splendid fel- 

 low, with ten points, and regular fine-shaped horns. Bran 

 winded them, and watched us most earnestly, as if to ask 

 why we did not try to get at them. The sensible dog, how- 

 ever, kept quite quiet, as if aware of the importance of not 

 being seen or heard. Donald asked me what o'clock it was; 

 I told him that it was just two. "Well, well, Sir, we must 

 just wait here till three o'clock, when the deer will get up to 

 feed, and most likely the bruteswill travel towards the burn. 

 The Lord save us, but yon's a muckle beast." Trusting to 

 his experience, I waited patiently, employing myself in 

 attempting to dry my hose by wringing them, and placing 

 them in the sun. Donald took snuff and watched the deer, 

 and Bran laid his head on his paws as if asleep, but his 

 sharp eye, and ear pricked up on the slightest movement, 

 showed that he was ready for action at a moment's warn- 

 ing. As nearly as possible at three o'clock, they did get up 

 to feed: first the hinds rose and cropped a few mouthfuls 

 of the coarse grass near them; looking at and waiting for 

 their lord and master, who, however, seemed lazily inclined 

 and would not move; the young stag fed steadily on to- 

 wards us. 



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