2o8 HIGHLAND SPORT 



intruders came to a halt, while the provoking little staggie 

 that had delayed our advance disappeared with a caper ; then 

 the next second we heard the clatter, the thud, and the rush 

 of a heavy beast in his gallop, accompanied by snorts of angry 

 defiance, while the two stags in the distance turned to fly. 



It was clear that the sounds we heard came from behind 

 the projecting rock, so now our anxiety was as to whether 

 the stag would continue his pursuit far enough down the hill 

 to bring himself to our view. It was clear if he did put in 

 an appearance we should be absolutely in full view of each 

 other, so the full-cocked rifle was already at my shoulder as, 

 after a few seconds of suspense, he bounded into sight about 

 a hundred yards below me. He came thundering down the 

 hill fairly broadside on, and excited as I was, it was yet 

 impossible to help admiring the spectacle, for, though we were 

 as motionless as the rocks around us, he "picked us up" in 

 an instant, while bringing himself to a sudden halt with his fore 

 legs planted stiff and wide in front of him, with his head 

 turned directly on us. We were equally -quick to see we were 

 detected, and realized that in another second he would bolt 

 down-hill to be lost to view. Alas! for him that second of 

 hesitation was his death warrant, for the rifle spoke in the 

 very nick of time, and he fell to all appearance stone dead. 

 Quickly lowering the hammer of the left barrel and putting 

 the stop on, we dashed down-hill with lengthy leaps to where 

 he lay, only to reach him just as the sinewy hind legs began 

 to kick in vigorous convulsions ; on to one of them Angus 

 flung himself, while I seized his horns and fixed his head to 

 the earth, so thus between us we held him till the knife could 

 be got at. A few minutes later the gallant stag lay prone 

 on the now nearly dark hill-side, and we began to realize the 

 good luck that had befallen us, for at our feet was a splendid 

 thirteen-pointer, which next day, without heart or liver, scaled 

 seventeen stone. 



Then I turned mockingly to Angus while saying, " Well 



