2i6 HIGHLAND SPORT 



line of the deer correctly while leading us on till we were soon 

 a long way in the next forest. Presently there were again 

 signs of nearing our quarry, but it was so dusk that only 

 objects on the sky-line could be discerned. The dog, however, 

 strained so furiously at the lead that we felt sure of once more 

 being close up with our victim, so Cruachan was slipped, the 

 while Angus remarked, " We will just chance it ; he surely 

 must be near at hand." 



Then we all stood still, with eyes intently fixed on the sky- 

 line ; suddenly the outline of the wounded beast appeared 

 against the pale sky, and equally as suddenly we saw Cruachan 

 bound on to his neck, when stag and dog rolled to the ground 

 to be lost in' view. We dashed up at best pace to find the 

 stag lying dead with his neck broken, while the dog lay placidly 

 by the side of his victim, uninjured, and apparently the least 

 excited of the whole pary. Visions rose to my mind of what 

 a painting Landseer would have made of such a group, but 

 they were roughly dispelled by Patcham saying, " Oh, how 

 I wish the light was stronger and that I had my Kodak ! " and 

 then we fell to laughing, talking, and patting Cruachan. By 

 the time the gralloch was over, as it was quite dark, we held 

 a council of war — for as we were not in our own kingdom, it 

 was a debated question whether we should despatch our men 

 with a pony from our lodge to bring home the stag next day, 

 or send a note to the owner of the forest in which we were, to 

 explain the circumstances, and leave it to him to settle what 

 was to be done ; for it was clear that if he or his guests were 

 stalking that way the next day, the arrival of our pony would 

 spoil their sport. Our gillie solved the difficulty by saying, 

 " Hech, sirs, a night on the hull will no harm me, so if ye'll 

 leave Cruachan we can lie down together, and he will keep me 

 warm. Then in the morning I can go to the lodge to tell the 

 head forester what has happened, and beg the loan of a pony 

 from him, which will bring the stag to our march after their 

 party has spied the ground, if they should be coming this way." 



