8o GUN, RIFLE, AND HOUND. 



ran out into the glen. There to my astonishment 

 stood a roe, or rather it was just turning away to 

 rejoin others whose sterns were vanishing behind the 

 rocks. Eighty yards it was too far for a shot, so, 

 whistling loudly, I proceeded to clamber up the cliff, 

 heedless of its frozen and slippery surface. The red 

 dog, unfortunately a mute runner, reached me first, so I 

 secured him till his fellow also appeared, and at once 

 opened on the line. Scarcely had I loosed the dogs 

 than I heard a shout from the woodcutters, and 

 turning towards the valley spied three roe-deer, buck, 

 doe, and yearling, ascending the opposite slope. They 

 had doubled back close behind the cliffs and crossed 

 just above the ponds. The hounds were right too, 

 for I saw them straining, neck and neck, across the 

 little valley. One moment I took for reflection, then 

 deciding that the odds were in favour of their taking 

 the pass at the top of the glen, I slipped and struggled 

 down the cliff again and ran up the valley as long as 

 my breath would last. The last hundred yards or so 

 was done at a walk, but all was still when I arrived, 

 and posted myself so as to cover the path through the 

 wood. Presently I heard the hounds on the top of the 

 hill, and sure enough the pattering of the deer's feet 

 in the dead leaves followed. This time there was no 

 delay, they broke out of the wood at a gallop. Shot 

 through the head, the buck rolled over and over, while 

 the doe, who had had the left barrel, held on. She 

 was rather far from me. For a minute or two I stood 

 still, and then with glad regret I heard the poor beast 

 cry in the wood some twoscore yards on, and knew it, 



