150 FORAYS AMONG SALMON AND DEER. 



already partially acquired its winter coat of white ; and 

 as the agile animal bounded up the hill-side to our 

 right, springing from rock to rock, it more resembled a 

 tiny flake of snow, rising to the clouds which capped 

 the summits above, than a living thing of earth. 



Gillespie shrewdly remarked that the creature " wad 

 na ha been ganging that gait," unless something else 

 had been on the move to alarm it ; and accordingly we 

 soon discovered two hinds and a stag going away to our 

 left. Had we been even commonly vigilant, we 

 might have had a very fair opportunity for stalking ; 

 but the deer seldom frequenting that part of the ground 

 we had crossed it carelessly, and exposed ourselves to 

 view, when concealment would have cost us little more 

 trouble. We now soon reached the scene of yesterday's 

 adventure ; but though we left not a glen or hollow 

 unexplored, though we followed the course of every 

 burn, and visited every spot where the animal could 

 have sought shelter, not a trace of him could we dis- 

 cover. In this manner the morning slipped away. 

 The ground had been so thoroughly disturbed yester- 

 day that not a deer was to be seen ; and it was not till 

 two o'clock that we discovered three feeding, but at so 

 great a distance and in such difficult ground, that it 

 would require two hours to stalk them ; and as we had 

 a walk of not less than fourteen or fifteen miles 

 between us and home, that was out of the question. 

 Accordingly, seeing that further sport for to-day at 

 least, was not to be had, we started for the Laird's, 

 where, after a smart walk of four hours, over ground 

 that would try to the utmost most southron nerves, we 

 arrived in time for a hearty welcome, a hospitable 

 meal, and pleasant company. 



