82 EEMINISCENCES OF A SPOETSMAN. 



hard, and the deer getting confused, found himself 

 suddenly on the brink of a small precipice, of about 

 fourteen feet in height, from the bottom of which there 

 sloped a rugged mass of stones. He paused for a 

 moment, as if afraid to take the leap, but the dogs were 

 so close that he had no alternative. At this time the 

 party were not more than one hundred and fifty yards 

 distant, and most anxiously excited, awaiting the result, 

 fearing from the ruggedness of the ground below that 

 the deer would not survive the leap. They were, how- 

 ever, soon relieved from their anxiety, for though he 

 took the leap he did so more cunningly than gallantly, 

 dropping himself in the most singular manner, so that 

 his hind legs first reached the broken rocks below ; nor 

 were the dogs long in following him. Buskar sprang first, 

 and, extraordinary to relate, did not lose his legs. 

 Bruin followed, and on reaching the ground performed 

 a complete somersault. He soon, however, recovered 

 his legs, and the chase was continued in an oblique 

 direction down the side of a most rugged and rocky 

 brae ; the deer, apparently more fresh and nimble than 

 ever, jumped through the rocks like a goat, and the 

 dogs well up, though occasionally receiving the most 

 fearful falls. From the high position in which we were 

 placed, the chase was visible for nearly half a mile. 

 When some rising ground intercepted our view we 

 made with all speed for a higher point, and on reaching 

 it we perceived that the dogs, having got upon smooth 

 ground, had gained on the deer, who was still going at 

 speed, and were close up with him. Bruin was then 

 leading, and in a few seconds was at his heels, and im- 

 mediately seized his hock with such violence of grasp 

 as seemed in a great measure to paralyze the limb. 



