202 FORAYS AMONG SALMON AND DEER. 



us that if we could only keep within our present dis- 

 tance of them till they should begin the descent of the 

 steep pass by which they would enter the glen, we 

 might then run forward and secure a good shot. This 

 was our only chance for to-day, and this plan we accord- 

 ingly proceeded to put into execution. The difficulty, 

 however, was, that since their direction had been altered, 

 it was impossible now to follow in their rear, without 

 our presence being detected by their noses, and we were 

 therefore obliged not only to keep pace with, but to 

 hasten on so as to outflank them. 



This required no slight exertion ; but in spite of 

 panting lungs, and palpitating hearts, we succeeded in 

 accomplishing it, and as the herd reached the head of 

 the pass down which their course lay, we were within 

 two hundred yards and ready to spring forward at the 

 right time. And now came the critical moment ; on 

 the next five minutes depended the success or failure of 

 the day. By twos and threes the deer were disappear- 

 ing below the outline, of the cliffs which overhung the 

 glen. At last there were only three in sight, now only 

 two, and now the ears of the shrewd old hind who 

 brought up the rear were vanishing and in another 

 moment gone. 



And now the change which came over our movements 

 would have indeed astonished a spectator not in the 

 secret ; we had been moving only with the greatest 

 caution for the last hour, we were now racing at full 

 speed, dashing through water and bounding over rocks, 

 indifferent to every obstacle, and intent only for the 

 moment upon the one sole object of each securing his 

 deer. A turret-shaped rock overhung the path down 

 which the herd were slowly winding, and we were not 

 long in reaching it, my light weight telling in my 

 favour I was first at the point, and looking over the 



