86 DEER-STALKING. CH. XXV. 



ached with straining through the glass : nothing 



could I see, and I began to think to myself that 



as it was past two and the shepherd's house was 



some three hours' walk, I had better turn off in 



that direction ; so slanting my course a little to 



the north, I pulled my plaid tight round me and 



walked on. In deer-stalking, as much as in the 



every-day pursuits of life, the old adage holds 



good — 



Credula vitam 

 Spes fovet. 



And this said hope carries the weary stalker over 

 many a long mile. I came in half an hour to a 

 large extent of heather-covered ground, interspersed 

 with a great number of tumulus-shaped hillocks. I 

 looked carelessly over these, when my eye was sud- 

 denly attracted by a red-coloured spot on one of the 

 mounds. I turned the glass in that direction, and 

 at once saw that it was a large bright-coloured 

 stag with fine antlers, and altogether an animal 

 worth some trouble. He was in a very difficult 

 situation to approach. He commanded a complete 

 view of the face of the hill opposite to him, and 

 over the summit of which I was looking, and I was 

 astonished he had not observed me, notwithstand- 

 ing all my care. As the wind blew, I could not 

 approach him from the opposite direction, even if I 



