REMINISCENCES OF A ROSS-SHIRE FOREST. 137 



" Get me up to him, Duncan," I said, " and I'll 

 make cold meat of him, as sure as the Lord made 

 Ribston pippins." At this horticultural simile Dun- 

 can grinned. 



"Wait just a little, sir; it's best to make sure." 



It was curious to watch the stag. Iu> wonder they 

 get thin. He wasn't quiet for two minutes at a time 

 running first after one hind, then after another, as 

 they showed symptoms of straying. Lying still for 

 ten or fifteen minutes, we satisfied ourselves that the 

 nine hinds in sight were the full strength of his 

 harem ; and in as many minutes more I was within 

 sixty yards of him. Like the big stag, he gave me 

 an easy broadside. 



" Missed him, by all that's wonderful ! " I ex- 

 claimed, as I jumped on my feet. 



"You have that, sir," said Duncan. 



And from the shoulder as I stood I put in the 

 second barrel. That stopped him with a vengeance. 

 Over he rolled like a rabbit ; but had I known the 

 position of the first shot, I should never have fired 

 the second, for both bullets were within a foot of one 

 another. It was only the " death run " that carried 

 him on. Before we had cleaned him and "laid him 

 out " it was nearly dark, so we made for the stable at 

 our best pace. Thanking him heartily for the grand 

 sport he had given me, and listening with becoming 

 modesty to a warm eulogium on my shooting, I bade 

 Duncan good night, and in an hour and a half there- 



