FOLLOWING THE WOUNDED. 143 



imminent peril of our necks, we both scrambled 

 recklessly down the face of the cliff, trusting to the 

 frail support of decaying roots or dry tufts of heather 

 and grass ; until, rather by luck than management, we 

 once more stood on terra firma. Gillespie remained 

 behind, stationed on a high crag, whence he might 

 watch the movements of the deer and signalize to us 

 below. 



At the very instant we sprang forward from the foot 

 of the cliff, the wounded stag disappeared in the burn ; 

 and we hastened forward, hoping to surprise him 

 while still cooling his burning tongue ; but he soon 

 emerged ; and, refreshed by his bath, pursued his 

 course up the brae at so brisk a pace as quickly to 

 leave us far behind, and shortly afterwards turning the 

 angle of a plateau of rock, was lost to view. Still 

 however we hastened on, hoping that he would again 

 grow faint from loss of blood, the traces of which we 

 discovered here and there as we followed in his track. 



On looking round for Gillespie, we saw him 

 descending the face of the cliff, with the speed and 

 agility of a cat ; and presently he overtook us, with 

 the tidings that he had seen the stag lie down, 

 apparently exhausted ; and he undertook to lead us 

 directly to the spot, which he had carefully marked 

 before leaving his post. This was indeed good news. 

 Night was coming on, and we had feared another 

 unsuccessful day ; but now there seemed a good 

 prospect of a fortunate termination to our labours, 

 and under the guidance of our veteran leader we once 

 more pressed eagerly forward. 



Having clambered as silently and expeditiously as 

 possible up the rocky bed of the burn, Gillespie 

 paused for a few minutes to reconnoitre, as we were 

 DOW close upon the spot where the wounded animal 



