276 DAYS OF DEER-STALKING. 



not lose his legs; Bran followed, and, on reaching the 

 ground, performed a complete somerset ; he soon, however, 

 recovered his legs ; and the chase was continued in an 

 oblique direction down the side of a most rugged and rocky 

 brae, the deer apparently more fresh and nimble than ever, 

 jumping through the rocks like a goat, and the dogs well 

 up, though occasionally receiving the most fearful falls. 



From the high position in which we were placed, the 

 chase was visible for nearly half-a-mile. When some rising 

 round intercepted our view, we made with all speed for a 

 higher point, and, on reaching it, we could perceive that 

 the dogs, having got upon smooth ground, had gained on 

 the deer, who was still going at speed, and were close 

 up with him. Bran was then leading, and in a few seconds 

 was at his heels, and immediately seized his hock with such 

 violence of grasp, as seemed in a great measure to paralyse 

 the limb, for the deer's speed was immediately checked. 

 Buskar was not far behind, for soon afterwards passing 

 Bran, he seized the deer by the neck. Notwithstanding 

 the weight of the two dogs which were hanging to him, 

 having the assistance of the slope of the ground, he con- 

 tinued dragging them along at a most extraordinary rate 

 (in defiance of their utmost exertions to detain him), and 

 succeeded more than once in kicking Bran off. But he be- 

 came at length exhausted ; the dogs succeeded in pulling 

 him down, and, though he made several attempts to rise, 

 he never completely regained his legs. 



On coming up, we found him perfectly dead, with the 

 joints of both his fore-legs dislocated at the knee, his throat 

 perforated, and his chest and flanks much lacerated. 



As the ground was perfectly smooth for a considerable 

 distance round the place where he fell, and not in any de- 

 gree swampy, it is difficult to account for the dislocation of 

 his knees, unless it happened during his struggles to rise. 

 Buskar was perfectly exhausted, and had lain down, shak- 

 ing from head to foot, much like a broken-down horse ; but 

 on our approaching the deer, he rose, walked round him 

 with a determined growl, and would scarcely permit us to 

 approach him. He had not, however, received any cut or 

 injury; while Bran showed several bruises, nearly a square 



