CHAP.THIRTY-FOUR DEERHOUNDS 



ently not exerting themselves very much, but in reality 

 getting over the ground at a very quick pace; the two dogs 

 ran neck and neck, not exactly straight at the deer, but 

 almost parallel, sloping a little, however, towards them, 

 and gaining slowly, but still perceptibly, on their game. 

 This lasted for half a mile or so, when the dogs had gained 

 so much, that they were within forty yards of the deer. 

 Nearer and nearer they approached, the hinds running in 

 a close body, the stag now and then lagging behind a few 

 yards, and then, with a great effort joining them again, his 

 greater weight and fat beginning to tell on his wind. Mal- 

 colm danced and shouted with eagerness: for my own part 

 I went along at a quiet trot, in order not to lose sight of 

 the run in case they turned up the hill and got over the 

 height. 



Presently the dogs seemed to be in the midst of the deer; 

 and the next moment we saw the stag coming straight down 

 the hill with tremendous strides, and the dogs ten yards 

 behind him — Bran rather the first; his thinner coat telline 

 in his favour. As for the hinds, they dispersed for a mom- 

 ent, then collected again, and went off up the hill; being 

 intent on the stag, I saw nothing more of them; they pro- 

 bably did not halt till they had crossed the hill and the 

 river too. 



Down came the stag at a pace and with bounds that 

 seemed likely to smash his legs every moment. Luckily 

 for the dogs the ground was (as it had been all along) most 

 favourable. I lost view of all three as they got into the 

 course of a burn, which joined the one we had come up. 

 The dogs were then at his haunches, but unable to get 

 437 



