A TICKLISH SITUATION. 217 



This was pleasant news. They had a long day before 

 them, and plenty of time for all operations, both private 

 and public. 



Now if truth were told, the harts above mentioned were 

 on the round even swell of the hill, where it was judged 

 very difficult, if not impossible, to come within distance of 

 them : " But say nothing of this, Jamieson, we must do our 

 best. We will not throw a damp over the chance." 



A stony burn comes down from the mountains near Bruar 

 Lodge, which has hollowed out a deep chasm between two 

 hills. The eye of no living thing can command this narrow 

 pass from the heights above. Up this water-course the 

 party proceeded, over fragments of rock, through the 

 streams, and little linns, directing their steps towards the 

 east, it being judged best to endeavour to come in by a side 

 wind from that quarter. They continued to ascend the 

 burn for a long time, happy when the disposition of the 

 ground permitted them to step out for a space on the 

 heather. At length they gained the ascent, and from a 

 black bog, which they had entered, discovered with their 

 glasses that the deer were still in the same situation. A 

 death-like silence took place : the ground was examined 

 minutely. Then the glasses were closed, and deep thought 

 and care sat on the countenances of the sportsmen. The 

 bog which had hitherto been their cover, terminated long, 

 long before they could get within any reasonable distance 

 of the deer, who were, moreover, in a commanding situation. 

 The men had observed a ridge of high heather, insufficient, 

 they judged, to conceal them ; that, however, must be tried 

 as their only chance : the dogs were left in the bog, Light- 

 foot's rifle was given to Jamieson, and they crept cautiously 

 out of the hole, where they had been skulking. Their caps 

 they put in their pockets, and began to writhe themselves 

 through the heather like serpents. The ground was dry, 

 but the operation was tedious, and even painful, so that 

 they took occasional moments of rest. They dared not raise 

 their heads ever so little out of the dewy heather, which 

 they shaved so closely that there was scarcely a waistcoat 

 button left in the party. They strove with their feet, and 

 clawed with their hands, still making but slow progress. 

 15 



