36 FORAYS AMONG SALMON AND DEER. 



saw that Walter too could ill disguise his nervousness. 

 But we felt it our only chance to-day, and we resolved 

 to follow Donald's advice, to " be steady, and take him 

 cannily." When within about two hundred yards, 

 something behind him (which afterwards proved to be 

 Rorie coming to join us) seemed to alarm his cervine 

 majesty, and he began to trot, while Donald whispered 

 to us not to fire till he was close. Onward he came, 

 ever and anon looking back, and regardless of what 

 was before him, till, when within about sixty yards, he 

 suddenly winded us, and checked himself abruptly, as 

 though puzzled what to make of the enemy visible 

 behind and the new scent in front. In an instant my 

 gun was raised, I aimed before the shoulder-blade, and 

 fired. The stag sprang high in the air, paused an 

 instant, and then tore down the brae at a mad pace. 

 Walter as yet had not fired, thinking my ball was 

 enough ; but on Donald's energetically bidding him to 

 fire, he sent two almost random balls after the stag, 

 one of which broke a fore leg, and the noble beast fell 

 over, never to rise again. My ball had passed (as we 

 afterwards found) through the fleshy part of his heart, 

 and thus, though not instantly, caused his death. He 

 was indeed a noble beast six points on one antler, 

 five on the other and proud we were of our success, 

 though it had come so late. Walter and I struck 

 across the hills at once for the cottage to take our 

 breakfast, leaving the three men to follow at their 

 leisure with the stag. 



Thus, though our inexperience led to an egregious 

 blunder, which spoiled our sport, yet we learnt a lesson 

 that would deter us from committing it again ; and 

 increased experience should lead to proportionate 

 success. 



