60 DOGS SLIPPED AT A WOUNDED DEEK. 



burns ; and all this one brief moment might render futile, 

 either by means of a single throb of the pulse in the act of 

 firing, or a sudden rush of the deer, which would take him 

 instantly out of sight. Tortoise raised his head slowly, 

 slowly, but saw not the quarry. By degrees he looked an 

 inch higher, when Peter plucked him suddenly by the arm, 

 and pointed. The tops of his horns alone were to be seen 

 above the hole in the bog; no more. Eraser looked 

 anxious, for well he knew that the first spring would 

 take the deer out of sight. A moment's pause, when the 

 sportsman held up his rifle steadily above the position of 

 the hart's body ; then, making a slight ticking noise, up 

 sprang the deer; as instantly the shot was fired, and 

 crack went the ball right against his ribs, as he was 

 making his rush. Sandy now ran forward with the dogs, 

 but still as well concealed by the ground as he could 

 manage. 



" By heavens ! he is off, and you have missed him ; and 

 here am I, wet, tarred, and feathered, and all for nothing ; 

 and I suppose you call this sport. If you had killed that 

 magnificent animal, I should have rejoiced in my plight ; 

 but to miss such a great beast as that! Here, Peter, 

 come and squeeze my clothes, and lay me out in the sun to 

 dry. I never saw so base a shot." 



"Hush, hush! keep down. Why the deer's safe 

 enough, Harry." 



" By Jove, I think he is, for I see him going through 

 the moss as comfortably as possible." 



" We must louse a doeg, sir, or he will gang forrat to 

 the hill." 



" Let go both of them ; it will be a fine chance for the 



