WILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS 



As the water, owing to the dry weather, was but shallow, 

 and the little wind which there was, was blowing right 

 down the stream, by keeping its course we hoped to reach 

 the deer unobserved. Before starting, I took a good look 

 at them through my glass, and saw that the herd consisted 

 wholly of hinds, except one tolerably handsome stag. The 

 dogs instinctively perceived that we had found game, and 

 changed their careless and slouching trot for an eager and 

 quick walk; every now and then they looked with pricked- 

 up ears, and an inquiring glance at Malcolm's face, as if to 

 ask him where the deer were, and how soon they would be 

 seen. 



Malcolm proposed to me that Donald should get up to 

 a height of the hill, from whence he could see for a long 

 distance on the other side, in case the deer crossed the top, 

 and went to bay in any of the burns that were within his 

 view, and after a slight demur, rather at the proposer than 

 at the proposal, Donald started off, with his "doobie barrel" 

 still carefully swaddled up under his arm. 



Malcolm and I proceeded carefully, though with great 

 ease, till we got into the burn; I led Oscar, while Bran was 

 under his guidance; we waded and scrambled with no 

 great difficulty, excepting that now and then Oscar was a 

 little annoyed at not being close to his master, as both 

 dogs seemed perfectly aware of what was going on, and 

 in momentary expectation of seeing the deer. Never was 

 ground more favourable: till we were within four hundred 

 yards of the deer, we had scarcely occasion to stoop our 

 heads. Having come at length to a rather difficult pass, 

 Malcolm asked me to look up carefully, that we might 



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