84 RED DEER. 



was a wonder where all the balls had gone 

 to, for the shooters were so close to each 

 other they narrowly escaped wounding 

 themselves by the cross fire. 



The party were so tired of walking after 

 the stag that they did not go at once to ascer- 

 tain if he was really dead, or to cut the throat. 

 They sat down in the heather to refresh them- 

 selves with the spirits, and so well did they 

 do this that by and by the old gunner fell 

 firm asleep. Neither blows nor shouts could 

 rouse him, so in order to wake him up they 

 set fire to the heather, little thinking of what 

 they were doing. Dry as tinder, the heather 

 blazed up in such a fury of flame that they 

 fled aside to get out. of the way, leaving the 

 sleeper to his fate. 



The flame passed over him as he lay, 

 and when the wind had driven it along 

 they found him in his burning clothes. 

 They could not put the burning clothes 

 out, and so carried him to the river and 

 dipped him in. He was terribly scorched 



