A STALK IN GLENF1DDICH. 87 



body, to induce us to think more about them. 

 After another half-hour's walking we again came 

 to a halt, and reconnoitred the sides of the hills 

 in all directions. There was one steep corrie on 

 our left, through the centre of which a burn ran 

 down in the direction of the river. A few birch- 

 trees fringed its sides, intermixed with occasional 

 fragments of rock, while still higher up, large 

 patches of bright green, where the heather had 

 been burned and the grass had recently grown, 

 afforded a beautiful contrast in colour to the 

 wider extent of purple in which they seemed to 

 be embedded. In the midst of one of these verdant 

 spots we soon made out several deer, some graz- 

 ing, others lying down, and scattered here and 

 there at a distance from the main body, several 

 hinds higher up the hill, and a few others close 

 to the birches near the banks of the burn. 



I soon perceived that there were about half a 

 dozen stags among them, and at least two with 

 fine heads. This was encouraging, but on looking 

 round to the forester, who had just shut up his 

 glass, I knew at once from the expression of his 

 countenance that he did not share my sanguine 

 expectations. One, he admitted, that was lying 

 down, was a "grand beast" with a royal head. 

 He recognized him at once, having stalke^ him in 



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