30 FORAYS AMONG SALMON AND DEER. 



presently I lost all sight of him ; when suddenly I was 

 startled by the sharp report of a gun, and running for- 

 ward found that the deer had emerged close by the 

 boulder-stone, and fallen to Walter's shot. 



I found my friend in a mood curiously made up of 

 anger and delight Though delighted that he had 

 killed, and been the first to kill, yet he was very much 

 provoked with himself for having previously lost a 

 magnificent opportunity. Three roe-deer had unex- 

 pectedly crossed his path abreast of each other; and in 

 the hurry and flurry of the moment, while trying to 

 single out one, he had allowed the whole to disappear 

 without a shot. However, the sight of the one at his 

 feet speedily restored him to good humour. We now 

 waited for the beaters, and then took measures for 

 trying the second wood the details of which I w T ill not 

 give, as they would prove little more than a repetition 

 of what I have just written. We found the three roe 

 again, and I put a charge of buckshot into one, which 

 made him lick the dust. But, though we saw single 

 heads more than once, we could not get near them ; 

 and, as it grew dusk, we left the shepherd in charge of 

 the two slain, with directions to get them conveyed to 

 the laird's, his own cottage, and half-a-dozen able 

 sons ready to aid in the task, being hard at hand ; and 

 ourselves, with Donald, started for a brisk walk of 

 some five miles to the cottage where we were to pass 

 the night, and where Sandy was to have some hot toddy 

 and eatables ready for our arrival. 



Tired though we were, our walk was a most enjoy- 

 able one. The evening was most lovely; though 

 intensely hot in the low-ground, an agreeable breeze 

 played about the uplands. As the sun set, however, a 

 few clouds made their appearance, gradually increasing 

 and thickening ; the whole heavens were covered with 



