WILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS 



perfectly clear water, waiting for the insects as they fell off 

 the weeping branches of the birch-trees which overhung 

 the still pools, as ifadmiring their own elegance in the water, 

 where every leaf was as plainly reflected as it would have 

 been in the costliest mirror; and as we made our way up the 

 hill-side the autumnal air felt fine, fresh, and exhilarating. 

 On coming out of the scattered wood which clothed the 

 glen on each side of the stream, we sawa fine roebuck feed- 

 ing in a grassy spot a few hundred yards out of the wood. 

 I and Donald also were much tempted to run the dogs at 

 him, as he was so far from cover; but as Malcolm voted 

 against it, I yielded, though Donald was obliged to take 

 sundry pinches of snuff before he quietly acquiesced in my 

 determination to leave the buck unmolested. As we edged 

 off from him in order that the dogs might not see him and 

 be tempted by his starting off to break away from us, the 

 buck lifted his head, and Bran's quick eye immediately 

 caught sight of him; and the dog stood immovable, with 

 his ears erect, and one fore-foot raised from the ground. 

 The sensible creature, however, instead of straining at his 

 leash, looked up inquiringly at his master,asking him plain- 

 ly, "Am I to chase that beauty?" Oscar, who was trotting 

 quietly behind Donald, who held him, but seeing that Bran 

 had game in view by his manner of gazing, and following 

 the direction of his eyes, also saw the buck. Not being so 

 well broken as Bran, he no sooner saw the buck than he 

 sprang forward, pulling the old keeper down on the flat of 

 his back. Luckily, Donald had the strap twisted round his 

 arm,orthe dogwould have escaped after the deer. As it was, 

 Donald managed to hold him, and having got up, rubbed 



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