PATIENCE IN REQUEST. 79 



deer on our hill. This, it is evident from the wild and open 

 nature of the country, cannot be done by actual driving, 

 but depends entirely upon skilful manoeuvring, which I do 

 not endeavour to explain at present, because you are about 

 to see it put in execution. 



" Do you see Maclaren, Peter Fraser ? " 



" He has louped the burn, and is in the moss forenent the 

 crags." 



" Now, as I was saying, Harry, I have not much hope 

 that we shall get at these harts, but I make it a rule to try 

 every possible chance. If we get them on our ground once, 

 it shall go hard but we will keep them there the whole of 

 the day. I think you will find this stalking in double quick 

 time far more beautiful and exciting than the getting a 

 quiet .shot." 



" Is Maclaren behind the hill, Peter ?" 



" No, no, he canna be that far as yet. You ken that 

 yoursel'." 



" That getting a quiet shot, Harry, has its charms, I must 

 confess : the threading of the winding passages through 

 bogs, up watercourses, and secret places in every possible 

 attitude, except that adapted to the nature of a two-legged 

 animal, is certainly picturesque and exciting. But then it 

 is a sort of assassination ; and you never get the intellect of 

 the animal to bear against you, or see his motions, but steal 

 upon him like a thief." 



" For heaven's sake, my good friend, do not prose any 

 longer, but tell me at once how the deuce we who are 

 sitting here have any chance of getting a shot at those 

 deer which are fifty miles beyond us. I long to be in 

 action." 



" Adagio, adagio, you shall see. Do not be impatient, my 

 good fellow ; I will not be chary of instruction when time 

 shall serve. Why, Peter, what the deuce is Maclaren about ; 

 will he never get behind the hill : are we to be kept here 

 all day ?" 



" Why sure ye'll no be expectin' he'll be there the noo : he 

 canna win that far in twanty minutes." 



" Well, well ; the time seemed longer." 



" So, as I was saying, Lightfoot, you must not in this 



