A TICKLISH SITUATION. 279 



Now if truth were told, the harts above mentioned 

 were on the round even swell of the hill, where it was 

 judged very difficult, if not impossible, to come within 

 distance of them : " But say nothing of this, Jamieson, we 

 must do our best. We will not throw a damp over the 

 chance." 



A stony burn comes down from the mountains near 

 Bruar Lodge, which has hollowed out a deep chasm 

 between two hills. The eye of no living thing can com- 

 mand this narrow pass from the heights above. Up this 

 water-course the party proceeded, over fragments of rock, 

 through the streams and little linns, directing their steps 

 towards the east, it being judged best to endeavour to 

 come in by a side wind from that quarter. They con- 

 tinued to ascend the burn for a long time, happy when the 

 disposition of the ground permitted them to step out for a 

 space on the heather. At length they gained the ascent, 

 and from a black bog, which they had entered, discovered 

 with their glasses that the deer were still in the same situ- 

 ation. A death-like silence took place: the ground was 

 examined minutely. Then the glasses were closed, and 

 deep thought sat on the countenances of the sportsmen. 

 The bog which had hitherto been their cover, terminated 

 long, long before they could get within any reasonable 

 distance of the deer, who were, moreover, in a commanding 

 situation. The men had observed a ridge of high heather, 

 insufficient, they judged, to conceal them; that, however, 

 must be tried as their only chance : the dogs were left in 

 the bog, Lightfoot's rifle was given to Jamieson, and they 

 crept cautiously out of the hole, where they had been 

 skulking. Their caps they put in their pockets, and began 



R 4 



