GONE AWAY. 201 



motion, and though yet uncertain as to our nature, she 

 had seen quite enough to arouse strong suspicions, and 

 there was now little chance of our being allowed a 

 nearer approach. 



At this moment Gillespie looked round in my 

 direction, intending to advise me to spring up and run 

 in upon them as my only chance ; but, ere his eye met 

 mine, the movement had been detected and the whole 

 herd were off. Forward we at once rushed to the rising 

 ground behind which they had disappeared, but it was 

 nearly two hundred yards distant, and before we had 

 gained it, they were more than a quarter of a mile away. 



A provoking conclusion this to so patient and care- 

 ful a stalk, but nil desperandum. Telescopes were im- 

 mediately brought into play, and the herd was carefully 

 watched until they again paused, and gradually began 

 to feed. They had evidently not been greatly alarmed, 

 and with a change of locality would very possibly lose 

 their suspicions. Accordingly once more we were off 

 in pursuit, and the manoeuvres above described were 

 many of them reacted. 



To avoid repetition, therefore, my readers must take 

 it for granted that patience and diligence were 

 displayed, limbs and lungs tested, and the herd again 

 within a short distance, when once more a pause was 

 made to form our plans. But the day was drawing to 

 its close, the hours for the mid-day nap were passed, 

 and the deer were still uneasy and restless. Though 

 feeding, they were feeding away, and ever on the alert. 

 As they retired, however, so did we advance, from bank 

 to bank, from rock to rock, as concealment was 

 possible, seldom gaining upon them, but not losing 

 ground. At length it was clear that they were, by a 

 wide circuit, making for the strath which they had left 

 in the morning ; and Gillespie, in high spirits, assured 



