STALKING UP TO THE DEER. 357 



lowest ground, proceeded some way up the side of the 

 valley on which he lay, when Finlay informed us that we 

 should soon be again in sight ; and that, in order to keep 

 ourselves concealed, it was necessary to throw ourselves 

 on our faces, and creep through some rushes that lay 

 before us. This we did, following each other in a line, 

 and closely observing the motions of our guide, for the 

 distance of 100 yards, until a rising ground intervening 

 between us and the deer, permitted us to regain an up- 

 right posture. Having gained this point, Finlay thought 

 it necessary to take another view of the deer, in case he 

 might have changed his position, and thus, perhaps, be 

 brought into sight of us when we least expected it : it was 

 proper also to ascertain whether or not there were any 

 deer in his neighbourhood, who might be disturbed by our 

 approach, and communicate their alarm to him. For this 

 purpose, unbonneted, his hair having been cut close for 

 the occasion, he slowly ascended the rising ground betwixt 

 us and the deer, looking at every step to the right and 

 to the left, and raising himself as if by inches, with his 

 head thrown back so as to bring his eyes to as high a level 

 as possible. Having, at length, caught a view of the 

 deer's horns, he satisfied himself that he had not moved, 

 and having sunk down as gradually and slowly as he rose, 

 that he might not by any sudden movement attract the 

 attention of the deer, he returned to us, and again led the 

 way ; and, after performing a very considerable circuit, 

 moving sometimes forwards, and sometimes backwards, we 

 at length arrived at the back of a hillock, on the opposite 

 side of which, he informed us in a whisper, that the deer 

 was lying, and that, from the spot where we then stood, 



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