THE STALK INTERRUPTED. 209 



part. We dash across the low ground, three in a row, 

 leaping over the pits in the peat bog, and clearing 

 distances which would scarcely be thought possible in 

 cold blood. Now we breast the steep ascent between 

 two brother heights that crown the glen, and find that 

 in Hector we have a leader, who certainly will not 

 suffer the grass to grow under his feet. But the 

 mountain air invigorates the lungs, and with chests 

 expanded by the exercise, instead of growing fatigued, 

 we feel ourselves each moment more equal to the efforts 

 demanded. 



" Yes, reader, 'tis a manly recreation this of deer- 

 stalking ! where will you woo health in a more enjoy- 

 able or nobler way ? But what, in the name of Diana 

 and Nimrod, are we about ? Hector is sprawling flat 

 on his face, and in half choked accents is bidding us 

 to "flap " as well if we would not " a' thegither " spoil 

 the sport of the day. In hurried whispers, we inquire 

 the cause of this sudden prostration ; and in whispers 

 as hurried are told that there are stags ahead of us 

 within 150 yards. "But I'm afeard, sir," added the 

 shepherd, " I'm afeard, sir, they're away." On question- 

 ing him we found, that just as we were reaching the 

 top of the pass, through which our course lay, Hector 

 had caught sight of the points of receding horns 

 receding however at so slow a pace, that he was 

 uncertain whether the game was aware of our vicinity 

 or not. If however they were, as he feared, " away," 

 they were almost certain to alarm the other deer, and 

 our best plan therefore was at once cautiously to move 

 on, and discover the route they were taking; or, if they 

 were still near, and had not heads to be taken in pre- 

 ference to those already the object of our pursuit, at 

 once to recede a few paces, and by making our circuit 

 still longer, work round to our former game leaving 



