84 CHANGE OF TACTICS. 



\viis 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 direc- 

 tion ; for, as the herd had never seen him or any of his 

 party, he judged they would remain for some time at least 

 on the round swell of the hill below, which they were now 

 approaching. 



This continued exertion was a severe draught upon the 

 vigour of the party, deplored by all ; but by none more 

 deeply than by the newly initiated sportsman : in fact, 

 he was wholly unequal to it his limbs faltered, his 

 knees trembled, and his breath came short and loud, till, 

 quite exhausted, he lay down on the moor, a solitary and 

 forsaken man, while his inhuman companions persisted in 

 their course. His spirit, however, was unbroken ; for, 

 as soon as his wind was a little recruited, he got up and 

 followed in the line. 



And now Tortoise and Peter Fraser had reached the 

 crags on the opposite side of the hill, towards the west. 

 Here was an absolute precipice, and large angular stones 

 were lying down it, with their edges uppermost. Happy 

 was the foot that did not slide down upon their sharp 

 ridges, and charmed was the leg that was not either cut 

 or broken by them. The two practised hill-men, nothing 



