CHAPTER III 

 THE SURPRISES OF THE HILL 



No one who has not stalked can have any 

 idea of the infinite variety to be found in that 

 sport. It is to the unending possibilities of 

 adventure, to the probable happening of un- 

 foreseen events, that deer stalking owes its 

 greatest fascination. A short account of a 

 single day will amply illustrate this. 



It was early in September, one of those 

 ideal days when after several of storming 

 wind and rain such as can only be in the West 

 Highlands, the glass rises, the clouds sweep 

 away, and a morning breaks, clear, calm, with 

 a gentle west wind and a brilliant sun. The 

 light was good, the wind was right, the rifle 

 was target proof, and hope was high. What 

 more could heart of man desire ? though in 

 this case it happened to be heart of woman. 



