68 LEAVES FROM A GAME BOOK. 



As this was not to be thought of, and as the Lodge 

 was but four miles in a bee-line, I despatched Donald 

 at best pace to fetch a pony, telling him I would wait 

 his return to help him put the stag in the saddle, for 

 no one man could have done this unassisted. Donald 

 having departed, seating myself by my prize, there was 

 ample time to admire anew his goodly proportions and 

 noble antlers — a perfectly shaped chandelier horn of great 

 substance and width, with very long, strong brow antlers, 

 as were also the three points on each top. Since that 

 happy day I have carefully looked at many Royal heads 

 hanging round the walls of friends' houses, and have 

 seen but few that could " take the shine " out of the 

 one that was then by my side, and I must confess it 

 had already become a matter of speculation as to whether 

 it would be given me to grace the walls of my dining- 

 room. Soon after Donald left I was joined by Lucy, 

 who had witnessed all that happened from his hiding- 

 place on Malaneach ; but when at last Donald returned 

 with the pony, we found the deer-saddle had rotten 

 girths, so getting the stag home was a long and trouble- 



