LEAVES FEOM A GAME BOOKr 159 



assured me the stag was heavier in body than his 

 horns indicated ; on hearing this, I took a fresh peep 

 at him, when to my surprise I saw him make a 

 sudden bolt in evident alarm, while over the sky-line 

 in furious pursuit there appeared a splendid stag with 

 a grand head. 



Nearly certain I could count royal points, I was 

 about to proclaim my discovery to Edmund, when it 

 flashed across me how pressed we were for time, and 

 as with all his skill he was yet a very excitable man, 

 I feared it might make him rash if he suddenly 

 heard of the presence of such a noble beast, especially 

 in the bloodthirsty frame of mind in which he then 

 was ; so, keeping my mouth shut, I quietly handed 

 back his glass, while remarking unconcernedly, **Well, 

 Edmund, if you want to get up to him in time to 

 see to shoot, we must just make a run for it, so 

 go ahead as fast as you like." Go ahead indeed he 

 did, but as it was down hill for a mile I managed 

 to live with him till the ascent began, when Edmund, 

 like a gentleman, made the pace less severe, while, 



