PASSING DIFFICULT GROUND. 139 



ground. At what particular distance they will see you, 

 must depend upon the state of the atmosphere and the 

 nature of the ground you are traversing. If the point is 

 dubious, you should always select the dark heather and bog 

 to walk upon, and avoid the greensward, where you will 

 be more easily descried. Be careful to expose as small 

 a front as possible, walking rank and file, each file 

 covering the leading one. Sometimes it happens that 

 there is a small space only to be passed, in which you will 

 evidently be visible ; and in this case it is very difficult to 

 elude the vigilance of the sentinels of the moor. The best 

 way is to watch your opportunity when all are browsing, 

 and then dart forward rapidly with your bodies bent, 

 across this dangerous point, one behind the other, as 

 before described. I have sometimes done this successfully ; 

 but it is a ticklish business, and will never succeed when 

 you are near the quarry. 



In all cases of approach, when it is necessary to ad- 

 vance in a stooping position, or to crawl, you had better 

 keep a constant eye upon the men in the rear, for, believe 

 me, no man is implicitly to be trusted; one will most 

 unconscionably put his head up because, forsooth, his back 

 aches insupportably ; another likes to have a peep at the 

 deer; a third (and he is the most unpardonable of all) 

 does not like to have the burn water enter the bosom of 

 his shirt, which is very inconsiderate, as nothing tends to 

 keep a man more cool and comfortable than a well-applied 

 streamlet of this description. So look back constantly to 

 the rear, that every gilly may do his duty, and observe 

 that no man has a right to see the deer in approaching 

 to get a quiet shot, except the stalker. In fact after a 



