CH. XXV. DEATH OF THE STAG. 89 



and not even looking up once, I could still get on 

 unobserved. Inch by inch I crawled : as I neared 

 the stone my task was easier, as the ground sank 

 a little and the heather was longer. At last I 

 reached the place, and saw the tips of his horns 

 not above eighty yards from me. I had no fear 

 of losing him now ; so, taking out the cork from 

 my rifle, I stretched my limbs one by one, and 

 prepared to rise to an attitude in which I could 

 shoot ; then, pushing my rifle slowly forward, I 

 got the barrel over the stone unperceived, and rose 

 very gradually on one knee. The stag seemed 

 to be intent in watching the face of the opposite 

 hill, and, though I was partially exposed, did not 

 see me : his attitude was very favourable, which 

 is seldom the case when a stag is lying down ; so, 

 taking a deliberate aim at his shoulder, I was on 

 the point of firing, when he suddenly saw me, 

 and, jumping up, made off as hard as he could. 

 He went in a slanting direction, and before he 

 had gone twenty yards I fired. I was sure that 

 I was steady on him, but the shot only seemed 

 to hurry his pace ; on he went like an arrow out 

 of a bow, having showed no symptom of being 

 hurt beyond dropping his head for a single 

 moment. 



I remained motionless in despair : a more mag- 



