THE SEARCH CONTINUED. 197 



quarter it stretched out somewhat in the form of the 

 letter T into two branching ranges of hills singularly 

 rugged and wild. On this table land, and among the 

 countless dips and irregularities that varied its surface, 

 the herd of deer of which we were in pursuit, were ac- 

 customed to spend the day, returning in the evening to 

 the lower ground of one of the two neighbouring glens. 

 Here then we paused, for the double purpose of re- 

 covering breath, and of making observations. Deer- 

 stalking is a pursuit which admits of nothing like rash 

 haste. There are indeed times when the utmost rapidity 

 of movement is necessary ; but caution and care are 

 ever indispensable, and for lack of these qualities many 

 a promising stalk has been suddenly spoilt, and many 

 an expectation disappointed. 



Quietly seating ourselves therefore behind a bank of 

 peat, so as not to attract any attention, should the deer 

 be near us, we began to look for them on the table 

 land in front. But not a head was to be seen. The 

 only living objects in view were a couple of ravens, 

 hastening to take their meal from the carcase of the 

 deer we had recently passed ; their hoarse croak harmo- 

 nising well with the wildness of the scene, and being 

 the only sound which broke its deathlike stillness. After 

 in vain examining all the ground within the range of 

 our glasses, we set off for a nearer inspection of some 

 of the many hollows which dimpled the plateau. It was 

 now nearly noon, the deer had gained a considerable 

 start of us, and in all probability would be feeding or 

 taking their mid-day nap in some of the many sheltered 

 localities near us. For some time we rambled on in 

 silence, Gillespie, as usual, taking the lead, and only 

 an occasional pause being made, as we rounded some 

 rock, and came in sight of fresh ground. Many such 

 rocks however were rounded, many hollows inspected, 



