246 DAYS OF DEER-STALKING. 



chased by one of my hounds, came to a very high and steep 

 declivity by the river Mark, not far from Glen Tilt. Being 

 pressed closely by the dog, he went down it upon his hind 

 quarters, preserving his position in the rush in a most 

 wonderful manner, at a time when I expected he must 

 have fallen headlong, and met with inevitable and instant 

 death. The dog just saved himself in the scramble, and 

 had barely power to draw back, pausing for a moment at 

 the edge of the precipice, with his fore legs extended, and 

 horror in his looks. The hart was not dead, though terribly 

 mangled. I got to him with difficulty, by going some little 

 distance round, and swinging down from rock to rock by 

 means of the impending birches. 



For my own sport I seldom turned my dogs loose after 

 cold harts, only doing so when I was endeavouring to bring 

 such to bay for the Duke of Atholl's sport. Thus being 

 put upon the scent of wounded deer only, they stuck to the 

 blood. 



The hill-man or gillie who leads the dogs should be a 

 very steady clever fellow, and, moreover, a strong man ; for 

 the dogs are so eager and powerful, that he who has them 

 in the leash is frequently pulled head over heels, when he 

 runs down hill with them. All their tackle should be 

 strong, and regularly inspected every morning, lest the dogs 

 should break loose, disturb the cast, and ruin your sport 

 for the day. Guard against all carelessness of this sort. 



The dogs should be led about a hundred yards behind 

 the deer-stalker ; and the leash-man should stop when he 

 stops, and stalk him as he stalks the deer. Should the 

 herd come in sight, he had better get them to lie down in 

 a hole if possible, and put his handkerchief over their eyes, 

 or they will be apt to struggle or whine, and do irreparable 

 mischief. After the shots are fired, it is the man's duty to 

 run up with them in the leash, some few degrees quicker 

 than the American vessel, which was unsuccessfully chased 

 by a flash of lightning. He then gives them up to the 

 forester, who lays one of them on, if there is occasion ; one 

 good dog being quite sufficient to bring a wounded hart to 

 bay. 



It may sometimes be requisite to slip a dog immediately : 



