CH. XXVI. WOUNDED STAG. Ill 



on my questioning him how he had got at the deer, 

 etc., he told me that, as he came to meet me, he had 

 seen a crippled stag coming slowly over the ground 

 exactly towards him; and that having stooped down 

 and loaded the gun he carried as quickly as he could, 

 he had waited till the stag passed within twenty 

 yards of him ; that he then fired both barrels, one 

 at his head and neck ; that one ball had broken off 

 a portion of the animal's horn, while the other had 

 passed through his body, tumbling him over for a 

 moment ; but that he had quickly recovered and 

 made off in my direction, and was probably now 

 in the burn over the next hill. " But you are aye 

 smiling, sir ; and I ken weel that you've seen more 

 of the brute than you tell me." I told the old man 

 exactly where he was ; and having made him quite 

 understand the very rock he was behind, I gave him 

 the rifle to finish the work he had commenced, 

 while I sat down with the two dogs in full view 

 of the pool, in order to keep the attention of the 

 stag occupied. 



" Now then, Donald, take care ; don't be in a 

 hurry, and hit him in the heart or the head." 



" No fear, no fear ; if I put out," said Donald, 

 " ye needna mind, the beast is as gude as killed 

 already." 



Then taking a prodigious spoonful of snuff to 



