CHAP. XXIII THE TEN-POINTER STAG SHOT 425 



between the two glens, and when near the top saw a 

 good-sized ten-pointer. As by this time I must have 

 seen ahiiost every stag in the Reserve, I had come to 

 the conclusion that it did not contain a twelve-pointer. 

 Consequently there was not much use in waiting longer, 

 and I resolved to try for the animal before me. So we 

 went after it. The stag was grazing slowly towards the 

 woods, and when sighted was passing over a bare set 

 of ridges and hollows that seamed the hillside. To 

 approach him we had to get to the crest of the ridge, 

 go along behind its shelter for some little distance, 

 and then descend to the level on which our quarry was 

 moving. 



This we did without difficulty, and presently came 

 in sight of him about 200 yards off, browsing off a tree. 

 Between us was a hollow, and we had to wait till he had 

 got into the next dip before we could move. Watching 

 him through the glass, his horns looked fairly large and 

 symmetrical. As soon as he had moved on we followed, 

 and presently saw him about 70 yards or so ahead, on 

 the opposite side of a hollow. He had evidently heard 

 us, for he was standing behind a bush looking intently 

 in our direction. I rested the Lee-Metford on a rock in 

 front, and waited till he moved on, which he did almost 

 immediately, and with his broadside exposed. I fired 

 behind his shoulder, and he went up a small ridge and 

 over the edge, two more bullets going after him as he 

 disappeared. Then there was silence as the under- 

 growth ceased breaking, and the next minute I heard a 

 heavy fall, and the crashing of branches told that the stag 

 was rolling down the hill. When I got up to him he had 



