LEAVES FKOM A GAME BOOK. 61 



was proclaimed with great excitement, whilst every 

 available spy- glass was soon turned on to the herd. My 

 host looked at me, I looked at him, and clearly each 

 guessed the thought that had flashed across us. " Who 

 shall go ? " was the question that propounded itself 

 unconsciously to each of us. The matter was soon settled, 

 for my friend, with rare self-denial, met my gaze with a 

 laugh as he said — 



" Well, as you found them, you shall go after them ; " 

 then making a study of the clouds, he continued, " With 

 this wind you will have to get round them, so I will post 

 myself in a pass on Malaneach to which they may come." 



That being settled, Williams, who cared but little for 

 stalking, went off to his grouse beat in Ben Alder Glen. 

 A few minutes later I also was away with Donald 

 McCallum, and having started as if we we about to walk 

 right away from the herd, we eventually began to turn 

 their flank, while a couple of hours' smart walking had 

 brought us to within a mile of the deer, the bulk 

 of them then resting in a large half circle, with the 

 hinds at either end of the crescent and the stags in 



