REMINISCENCES OF A ROSS-SHIRE FOREST. 125 



was in difficulties. His usual decision had deserted 

 him, and lie was turning anxiously round in all 

 directions. He had brought me straight as a die 

 to the place, but the deer had moved. We thought 

 we had them well on our right. They were close to 

 us on our left ; and while Duncan was looking in 

 rather a bewildered way at where they had been, 

 they were inspecting his curly head, and very much 

 puzzled thereby. I was close behind him, with the 

 rifle in my hand, but they were too quick for us. 

 Having satisfied themselves that our intentions were 

 far from friendly, they turned their heads down hill 

 and were off before I could get the rifle out of its 

 cover. 1 



" Xever mind, Duncan," I said ; " it's not the first 

 time you and I have been served that trick, but we'll 

 be upsides with them yet. Tout pent xe rctablir, as 

 the third Xapoleon said after the 'set-to' at Saar- 

 bruck ; we've the best part of the ground in front of 

 us yet." 



1 " And serve you right, too," I hear some one say. " Why 

 didn't you have your rifle ready ? " Why ? for the following 

 sufficient reasons : We were not, as we imagined, very near 

 the deer, and it is far safer to keep the rifle in its cover till 

 you think you are. It has often to be handed over rocks in 

 all sorts of positions, and dragged along soft ground muzzle 

 first ; and a gleam of sun across your barrels will not improve 

 your chance of getting near a stag take my word for it 

 any more than will a quarter of a pound of peat in the muzzle 

 your chance of killing him when you are near. 



