210 FORAYS AMONG SALMON AND DEER. 



these still undisturbed. Again, therefore, we faced the 

 hill, and a few more cautious steps brought us into the 

 pass. No deer were visible. It was clear therefore, 

 that we had disturbed them; but in which direction 

 had they gone ? 



While pausing to satisfy ourselves on this point, 

 Hector's quick sight again served us in good stead, 

 as he discovered three stags of moderate size quietly 

 walking away along the course of a burn, at a distance 

 of between three and four hundred yards. Fortune 

 therefore favoured us. Though disturbed and in full 

 view, they were making their retreat very leisurely, 

 and not in a direction calculated to interfere with our 

 operations. 



And now to resume our stalk : there was a slight 

 descent of half a mile to run over, before reaching the 

 point for which we were making. A few minutes brought 

 us into a long hollow ; a hill lying on either hand, and 

 at the further end of the crags which overhung the 

 position of our game. As we traversed this hollow the 

 hinds, which had separated from the stags, were clearly 

 visible at the distance of about a mile, still feeding away 

 from us. 



The wind however was now blowing in our teeth, 

 and the sun shining from directly behind us ; so that 

 in looking towards us, they would find the light too 

 strong to permit of objects being very distinctly seen, 

 and we were therefore tolerably safe of not disturbing 

 them ; and if they, on the higher ground, were not dis- 

 turbed, the stags lying below would continue unsus- 

 picious. So far, so good, and now we were at the rock, 

 below which we expected the game to be lying. Alister 

 and I sat down, while Hector crept cautiously forward 

 to reconnoitre. 



After an absence of a few minutes, he rejoined us, 



