A MONTH AT STRATHMAACOE 215 



blame of the misses pretty evenly between the rifle, the stalker, 

 and a cock-grouse. 



Then Angus took Cruachan, still in the lead, and showed 

 him the track of the stag ; the dog picked it up at once, and we 

 all went forward at a trot, Angus holding on to Cruachan with 

 all his strength. In this way we covered a long distance, but 

 presently the redoubled impatience of the dog warned us we 

 were nearing our quarry, and as we cleared the next hill-top 

 there he was, full in view, not two hundred yards in front 

 of us, going very sick towards the adjoining forest. As he 

 had not seen us, we dropped flat while Cruachan's collar was 

 unfastened, when with a low growl of joy at a tremendous dash 

 the dog sped headlong after his prey. As the stag saw him he 

 quickened his pace, at which Angus merely laughed, as he 

 said, " He is ours now for certain," and we jumped up to follow 

 the chase. 



It was a down-hill run into a burn ; on the opposite side 

 there was a sharp rise, which hid the deer from Cruachan, and 

 as he went thundering into the stream, behold ! there started up, 

 almost at his very nose, a fine, strong, unwounded stag, so small 

 wonder that the dog with a desperate bound forward settled 

 down to the pursuit of this one. It was the more provoking 

 to watch, as this deer went off at right angles to the line of 

 the wounded beast, while as we knew too well the difference 

 there was between a cold stag and a sick one, we stood de- 

 jectedly watching pursued and pursuer until both disappeared. 



Angus, however, vowed he would yet have the ten-pointer 

 even if he followed him all night, so telling us that Cruachan, 

 as soon as the cold stag had fairly given him the slip, would be 

 certain to return to the spot at which he had left us, we all sat 

 down to wait. 



In about an hour the dog came back, apparently but little 

 the worse for his run. He was promptly put on the lead and 

 taken once more to the tracks of the ten-pointer ; it was getting 

 dusk, but that made no difference to Cruachan, who held the 



