102 DEER-STALKING. CH. XXVI. 



and make away across the valley ; but not seeing 

 this happen, I walked carefully on, and came in 

 view of nine deer, hinds and calves, who were feed- 

 ing quietly on a little piece of table-land close 

 to the burn. I also saw the long ears of another 

 appearing beyond and above the rest, evidently 

 being on the look-out. They seemed to have no 

 suspicion of an enemy, and when they stopped to 

 gaze about them their heads were turned more 

 towards the plain around than to the course of the 

 burn. The sentry too was seemingly occupied 

 with looking out in every direction excepting where 

 I was. They were not more than two hundred 

 yards off, and I judged that by advancing quickly 

 the moment that they turned the next corner, I 

 should be able to get unperceived within forty or 

 fifty yards. The single hind had disappeared too, 

 having gone over a small rise. I put on a new 

 copper cap, and felt sure of an easy shot : the dog, 

 though he did not see the deer, perfectly under- 

 stood what was going on, and seemed afraid to 

 breathe lest he should be heard. Amongst the 

 herd were two fine barren hinds, both in capital 

 condition. I did not care which of the two I 

 might kill, but determined to have one, and was 

 already beginning to reckon on Donald's delight 

 at my luck in getting a fine hind as well as the 



