DEER-STALKING. 67 



as the deer frequently, when feeding Tip-wind, pass 

 over the boundary, and are eagerly sought by the 

 sportsman, who, tired of bringing down grouse, puts 

 down his gun, and, rifle in hand, stalks the welcome 

 visitor, and after some hours of hard labour, by dint 

 of creeping on hands and knees over the rugged 

 ground, stealing along the burns and round the moun- 

 tainsides, finds himself within one hundred and fifty 

 yards of a noble stag, and brings him down if he is 

 fortunate, or, after all the toil and trouble, sees him 

 career away, his bullet having missed its mark, causing 

 much sorrow and vexation of spirit in the breast of 

 the greatly disappointed sportsman. 



An incident which occurred to a friend of mine 

 will show the difficulties and uncertainties that beset 

 the deer- stalker. After a long stalk over a most diffi- 

 cult country, my friend who, by-the-way, is a marvel- 

 lously good shot succeeded in getting within easy 

 distance of a fine stag. Taking steady aim, he fired 

 at the deer, and to his delight saw him bound in the 

 air, and then roll over and over down the mountain- 

 side to the level ground at the foot. Hastening in 

 the company of the keeper to secure his prey, great 

 was his dismay when he saw the stag rise from the 

 ground and gallop away at full speed ! It was sup- 

 posed that, startled by the shot, the bullet perhaps 

 just grazing him, he lost his balance, and thus toppled 

 over from the height, the wonder being that he was 

 not killed by the fall. 



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