AN INJUDICIOUS SHOT. 87 



small hart which was galloping away gaily and gaily 

 did he still continue to gallop. This injudicious shot 

 (which of course turned the other deer) struck woe and 

 dismay into the soul of Tortoise; up he sprang, and 

 dashed forward, but it was only to see an antler or two 

 vanishing out of sight under the swell of the ground ; 

 still he went on, as fleetly as ever he ran in his life, 

 cutting off to the point where he expected the deer would 

 reappear in crossing the bottom. There he arrived just 

 in time to get a long shot at the last deer that was passing. 

 He stopt short as an Arab's courser, and, standing at 

 once firm and collected, took a deliberate aim at him. 

 The crack of the ball could not be mistaken ; it was that 

 particular smack which it makes, distinct from any other, 

 when a deer is stricken. 



Davy came forward with the dogs at the well-known 

 sound, followed by Lightfoot ; the whole party then lay 

 quietly down in the heather, Peter Fraser being enjoined 

 to examine the herd as they passed up the opposite 

 heights, and keep his eye on the wounded hart. This 

 is always the surest way of recovering him ; for if you 

 press him, and he is not hit deadly, he will get forward 

 into the middle of the herd, whilst his wound is fresh, and 

 run with the other deer in such a manner as will most 

 probably occasion you to lose him ; but, on the contrary, 

 Avhen he is not urged forward, and sees no one in pursuit 

 of him, his wounded part stiffens, and he seeks case by 

 slackening his pace, or, if badly wounded, by falling out 

 altogether from the rest of the herd; and, if he is not 

 badly wounded, you must lose him at any rate, at least 



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