THE BIO STAG. 91 



him, so that if we could only get over the first 

 thirty or forty yards of the crest of the hill, which 

 was iiaked and slaty, without being observed, we 

 might reach the burn and some birch-trees, after 

 which the banks, although low, would suffice to 

 screen us from the hinds as we crawled through 

 the bed of the stream. Leaving the gillie, there- 

 fore, and the dogs at the other side, we commenced 

 operations by turning over on our backs and half- 

 sliding, half-wriggling, feet foremost, down the 

 steep incline, we successfully accomplished this, 

 the most difficult part of our task, and then 

 commenced crawling over the stones in the bed of 

 the burn, every now and then immersed in a pool 

 of water, as the banks were still too low to admit 

 even of a stooping posture. At last we gained 

 the friendly shelter of the birch-trees, and rising 

 to our feet, advanced with comparatively little 

 difficulty until we reached the base of a naked 

 elevated mound overhanging the bed of the stream, 

 which afforded an opportunity of ascertaining our 

 exact position. Slow and stealthy was our pro- 

 gress as we crept up to the ridge of the rough 

 slope, when I ventured, as cautiously as possible, 

 to peep into the glen below. It was a magnificent 

 sight. There, within three hundred yards of me, 

 was the big stag, still lying down, but with his 



