224 EXTRACTS FROM NOTE-BOOKS. CH. XXXIV. 



ascertain what had happened. On seeing me he 

 made off towards the river, with as long leaps as 

 the snow would allow him ; and as it was tolerably 

 hard, he got on pretty quickly till my charge of 

 shot put an end to his journey. 



The report of the gun started two fine stags, 

 who had been feeding along the course of a small 

 open rill which ran into the river just above 

 where we were ; and I was astonished to see the 

 power with which these two great animals galloped 

 up the hill, although they sank deep at every 

 stride. When half way up, they halted to look 

 at us, and stood beautifully defined on the white 

 snow ; they then trotted quietly off till we lost 

 sight of them over the summit of the hill. 

 Donald in the meantime had carefully concealed 

 the otter under the snow (marking the place by a 

 small pyramid of stones), as I intended to have 

 him skinned on our return home. 



The lakes and the still pools being frozen, we 

 saw several herons standing in their usual and 

 characteristic attitude, waiting patiently in some 

 shallow running water for any unwary trout that 

 might pass within reach of their unerring bills ; 

 and here and there a heron, who appeared to have 

 made his morning meal, was standing, as quietly 

 and as unsubstantial-looking as his own shadow, 



