THE EXPEDITION CONTINUED. 135 



CHAPTER X. 



Operations resumed. Reconnoitring. Deer discovered. The Stalk. 

 Failure. Second Stalk. Stag wounded. The Pursuit. Fresh 

 Deer found. Successful Stalk. Second Death. School for 

 Generalship. Return Home. 



I RESUME the account of our expedition to the hills, at 

 the point up to which the last chapter carried us. 



The approach of evening brought an improvement in 

 the weather ; the rain gradually ceased, and the sun 

 at length, burst through his cloudy veil, giving promise 

 of a fine sunset, and consequently better hopes for the 

 morrow. It was too late, however, to attempt any- 

 thing to-day, except in the immediate vicinity; and 

 accordingly we sallied forth, armed, myself with rifle, 

 and Walter with gun, to enjoy the two remaining 

 hours of daylight, that, if nothing more could be 

 gained, we might at least acquire an appetite for our 

 dinner. 



On the opposite bank of the river, running at the 

 bottom of the strath, the hills rose very precipitously, 

 their sides here and there intersected by a deep ravine, 

 worn by the rains of many a storm, within the shelter 

 of which, in the most severe weather, the deer were not 

 unfrequently driven from the more exposed heights 

 above. There was also a strath running off at right 

 angles to that which we were traversing, having at its 

 further end a deep basin-shaped hollow, or come, 

 perfectly sheltered from the wind, excepting in one 

 direction, hemmed in as it was on three sides by rocks 

 of a great height, their bald summits unclad by a blade 

 of vegetation. Though for some unaccountable reason 



