84 DAYS OF DEER-STALKING. 



ridge ; and the stones that they put in motion coursed each 

 other down the steep, and gave forth a sound, which, becom- 

 ing fainter and fainter, died gradually away, as they rolled 

 into the depth below. 



But how uncertain are all the chances of the chase I 

 How Fortune loves to baffle us ! and how wise the Romans 

 were to worship her as a deity, and erect a temple to her 

 honour ! 



The goddess sulked unpropitious, and her frowns were 

 met by Tortoise with the following eloquent exclamations, 

 uttered, as was meet, sotto voce 



" Death and destruction ! they are turning away. Oh, 

 what a fine chance lost ; they were coming up so beauti- 

 fully ! Confound ye all, ye regular set of misbegotten imps, 

 don't you know your own minds ? But you shall have a 

 run for it yet. Gnai a voi, anime prave ! 



" Come along your best pace, Harry, for the hinds are 

 vstarted, and our parcel is racing up to them ; keep you 

 above me, which will save you ground ; and, Peter, do you 

 stalk the deer, and I will stalk you, which will give me a 

 pull also. We will make a push for it yet." 



In pursuance of this arrangement, Fraser peered down at 

 the deer's horns, over the ribs of the hill side, ducking, 

 skipping, and running, so as to keep out of their sight, and 

 nearly along side of them, the riflemen above keeping 

 parallel to him, and dressing according to his motions. The 

 deer, however, were steady to their tactics, for they were 

 resolved not to come over the steep part of the hill, where, 

 by losing the wind, they might come unawares on an 

 enemy ; thus they were rapidly advancing towards the foot 

 of the hill, where the slope was so open and gradual that 

 they could see a long way in advance, and consequently 

 could not be suddenly surprised. 



When Tortoise saw how unfavourably things continued 

 to go, he persisted no longer in the same direction, which 

 would only have given the deer a fresh start, and hurried 

 them on to an impracticable distance, without any possible 

 chance of his coming within shot of them. 



Thus, whilst there was yet time, he turned suddenly to 

 the right, and went rapidly over the hill in a new direction ; 



