WILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS 



The gallant dog, when I was up with him, lay down pant- 

 ing with his fore-paws on the deer, and wagging his tail 

 seemed to congratulate me on my victory, and to expect 

 to be caressed for his share in it. A fine stag he was, in per- 

 fect order, with noble antlers. Donald added to my satis- 

 faction by applaudingmy manner of gettingup to him, add- 

 ing that he never would have thought it possible to kill a 

 stag on such bare and flat ground. Little did I feel the fa- 

 tigue of our three hours' walk, two of them in the dark and 

 hard rain. We did not go home, but went to a shepherd's 

 house, whose inhabitants were at evening prayer when we 

 arrived; we did not interrupt them, but afterwards the wife 

 prepared us a capital supper of eggs and fresh trout, which 

 we devoured with vast relish before the bright peat-fire, 

 our wet clothes steaming all the time like a boiler. 

 Such was the death of my first stag. 



