34 LEAVES FKOM A GAME BOOK. 



resolute shake of the head, the advance was resumed. As 

 we came to the sky-line, dropping to our knees, we crept 

 forward almost three abreast ; a head in front of me on my 

 left was the stalker, while on my right crawled Lightfoot. 

 After covering some yards in this way, eight stags became 

 visible, seven of them browsing about a hundred yards 

 below us ; the eighth was lying behind a big rock, with 

 nothing but his head showing. As he undoubtedly had 

 the best pair of horns of the lot, after a moment's 

 hesitation I settled to try for a " gallery " shot. 

 As the rifle was laid, a sharp kick on the shin made 

 me turn to find the stalker scowling fearfully, while 

 he pointed and signed as well as he dared, with eyes 

 starting out of his head, to a very easy broadside chance 

 at a beast feeding below. For the life of me I could not 

 help winking at him, while with a grin I again sighted 

 for my first choice. As the report rang out, the stag's 

 head, as if moved by machinery, dropped quietly to the 

 heather, while, as the forester had predicted, the rest 

 of the herd dashed off to the right, and putting in my 

 second barrel too hastily, I struck my beast nearer the 



