238 ON THE GRAMPIAN HILLS. 



as eager pursuers in the rear ; then suddenly they 

 retrace their steps, dashing off at a tremendous speed, 

 escaping for awhile, but only for awhile. 



Tiler rides hard, a splendid horseman, urging on 

 his well-bred steed, bent upon isolating some of the 

 deer from the herd, knowing if they were all 

 driven into the nets together, they would break 

 down the barriers and escape. Then the loud 

 and discordant shouts of the beaters announce 

 that they are again in sight; this time the herd 

 is divided, three stags and four hinds being separated 

 from their fellows in adversity. Now they approach 

 the spot where I had ensconced myself, with the view 

 of witnessing the denoument. Louder and louder 

 grow the shouts of the beaters and the halloos of the 

 hunters, but once more the deer wheel round and dash 

 back into cover. Again their relentless pursuers are 

 on their track, and they are driven once more in the 

 direction of the nets, the beaters closing around them. 

 The eager horsemen gain ground upon them, it is in 

 vain they try to head back ; they are encompassed on 

 all sides. Nothing is left for the panting animals but 

 to dash at the nets, in the hope of thus escaping. 

 Now is the hunter's moment of victory; a hideous 

 uproar adds to the bewilderment of the fugitives, and 

 they make a rush in a body at the nets. One noble 

 old stag clears the net which I measured subsequently, 

 and found to be seven feet in height and returns to the 

 haunts in which he has so long dwelt undisturbed. 

 But the remainder are entangled beyond hope of 

 escape ; the beaters throw themselves upon them, 

 and, after a short struggle, the captive deer are bound 

 and lie prostrate on the ground, though again and 



