]60 EEMINISCENCES OF THE LEWS. 



fast. If he had only been as tired as I was 

 when I started, and lain still some ten minutes 

 longer, we should have lost him, for he was in 

 a hole where we must have missed him. We 

 were, however, a long time getting at him, as 

 the ground was very difficult, and we had a 

 great round to make. At last, however, we 

 did it. It was a long and an awkward shot ; 

 but I felt I was shooting for my life, as Sandie's 

 look was ominous. I thought, if I missed that 

 stag, I might be potted and left in Grien 

 Braggar myself, and it was a relief when the 

 thud greeted my ear, and the poor stag fell like 

 a leaf. I never killed a stag in my life that I 

 did not hate myself as I looked upon him ; but 

 Sandie was in ecstasy. Of course there never 

 was such a stag before or since, and they were 

 the best brow antlers he had ever seen ; and 

 then what beam ! And certain sure he was a 

 forest stag, as he had the short hoof of the 

 hill stag, not the long one of the flat north 

 country. 



Then he was closely examined, and it was 

 discovered what a wonder it was he had escaped 

 yesterday, for an inch higher must have killed 

 him, as there was the clean mark of the graze 

 of the second bullet. And there hangs the 

 head in my study ; and never more shall I have 



