LEAVES FROM A GAME BOOK. 163 



the thud, and the rush of a heavy beast in his gallop, 

 accompanied by snorts of rage and defiance, quickly 

 causing the other two stags to bolt. It was clear the 

 sounds we heard came from behind the projecting rock, 

 so now our anxiety was as to whether the approaching 

 stag would continue the pursuit of the intruders 

 sufficiently far to bring him into our sight. 



It was clear that, if he did put in an appearance, we 

 should be absolutely in full view of each other ; therefore 

 the full-cocked rifle was already half way to my shoulder, 

 as, after a few seconds of suspense, he bounded into 

 sight some hundred yards below. 



He came thundering along, fairly broadside on, and, 

 excited as I was, it was yet impossible to help admiring 

 the spectacle, for though we were as motionless as the 

 rocks around us, yet he " picked us up " in an instant, 

 bringing himself to a sudden halt by planting his fore- 

 legs stiff and wide apart in front of him, at the same 

 time turning his head directly on us. It needed no 

 second glance to show me we were detected, and that 



this halt was but preparatory to bolting down hill and 



M 2 



