REMINISCENCES OF A ROSS-SHIRE FOREST. 155 



quite as much perhaps as I ought to have done ; 

 moreover, it is not particularly new, for, if I mis- 

 take not, you will find it among the writings of Joe 

 Miller ; but it has given me an idea. Say that I was 

 teaching a young hand to stalk, here's the advice I 

 should give him. 



Before starting in the morning, look your rifle very 

 carefully over. Don't trust this to any one else. See 

 that it has been properly cleaned, and that the breech- 

 action is right ; then put it in its cover, and leave 

 it at home. Go out at first with your glass alone, in 

 company with a good man. Try how near you can 

 get to the deer ; lie and watch them, and study their 

 habits. Deer, when feeding, will often raise their 

 heads suddenly, and look, it may be quite accidentally, 

 in your direction. Watch them steadily, which you'll 

 be able to do if you have left your rifle at home, and 

 in another minute or two you'll probably see them 

 begin to feed again. Follow them up all day ; try- 

 to stalk them in sight not such a difficult thing as 

 many people imagine. If you are dressed properly, 

 and always keep a background of rock or heather, 

 you'll be surprised to find what you can do. By 

 following such tactics for a while, you will shoot like 

 a sportsman when the time comes, and very many 

 fewer noble beasts will be left to hobble about on 

 three legs in the forests of Scotland, or to linger 

 out a miserable existence behind some ledge of rock 

 whither they have crept, sorely stricken, to die. 



