LEAVES FROM A GAME BOOK. 63 



In about an hour one by one the hinds began to 

 rise to feed, while in a short time the whole herd, 

 following their example, had fed away from us, to 

 vanish over the top of the slope. As two little 

 "staggies," however, would not pass over the sky-line, 

 it became a question as to whether we should attempt 

 to cross the flat in sight of them, for it was clear 

 that, if they would only follow the rest of the herd, we 

 could make a dash for it and reach the top of the ridge 

 while the deer were yet within shot. Making up our 

 minds to have a try, then began one of the longest, 

 most tiring, flattest, and wettest of creeps that I ever 

 undertook. The ground we were about to crawl over 

 was simply a morass on which the hillocks and water- 

 courses ofiered us the scantiest of shelter. Creeping 

 forward like a couple of big lizards, we were at once wet 

 through from breast to knees, sinking well over our elbows 

 at each movement, and often having to wait motionless 

 for many minutes as those two little despicable stags 

 ceased feeding to gaze about them. When about half 

 way across this flat, to our great joy they disappeared. 



