WILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS 



yards, and I fired at his throat just where it joins the head. 

 He dropped on his knees to my shot; but was up again in 

 a moment, and went staggeringup the hill. Oh, for one hour 

 of Bran ! Although he kept on at a mad pace, I saw he was 

 becomingtooweak forthehill. He swervedandturned back 

 to the burn; and came headlong down within ten yards of 

 me, tumbling into it apparently dead. Feeling confident, 

 from the place where my ball had taken effect, that he was 

 dead, I threw down my rifle, and went up to him with my 

 hunting-knife. I found him stretched out, and as I thought 

 dying; and I laid hold of his horns to raise his head to bleed 

 him. I had scarcely touched him when he sprang up, fling- 

 ing me backwards on the stones. It was an awkward posi- 

 tion. I was stunned by the violent fall; behind me was a 

 steep bank of sevenor eightfeet high; before me the bleed- 

 ing stag with his horns levelled at me, and cutting me off 

 from my rifle. In desperation I moved; when he instantly 

 charged, but fortunately tumbled ere he quite reached me. 

 He drew back againlike a ram about to but, and then stood 

 still with his head lowered, and his eyes bloody and swell- 

 ed, glaring upon me. His mane and all his coat were drip- 

 ping with water and blood; and as he now and then tossed 

 his head with an angry snort, he looked like some savage 

 beast of prey. We stood mutually at bay for some time, till 

 recovering myself, I jumped out of the burn so suddenly, 

 that he had not time to run at me, and from the bank above, 

 I dashed my plaid over his head and eyes, and threw my- 

 self upon him. 



I cannot account for my folly, and it had nearly cost me 

 dear.The poor beast struggled desperately,and his remain- 



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