COUNCIL OF WAR. 211 



with the pleasing information that the stags, fifteen in 

 number, were all there ; but our pleasure somewhat 

 abated, when he added, that they were lying down, 

 quite out of our reach, except as a random shot, and 

 that there was no possibility of approaching nearer. 



What was to be done ? I have said that we were 

 seated on a rock, at the end of a long hollow, flanked 

 by a hill on either side. As we faced the glen below, 

 in which lay the deer, there was to our left a pass, run- 

 ning out between the two peaks of the hill on that side. 

 Now if the deer could be driven up that pass, they must 

 of necessity make their exit within some 150 yards of a 

 rock a little to our left, behind which we might be 

 located, and thence secure each of us a hasty shot. To 

 drive deer, however, is anything but an easy task, par- 

 ticularly to drive them with the wind. In the present 

 instance, if disturbed, they would in all probability turn, 

 and try to make their way up wind, in the direction by 

 which they had entered the valley. Still this seemed 

 to be our only chance ; for if we waited some hours 

 until they should rise to feed, they would be equally 

 likely to feed away in that direction, and come no nearer 

 our position than they were now. 



After long consultation therefore, when every pro 

 and con which could possibly be foreseen had been 

 discussed, Hector started to retrace his steps along the 

 hollow in which we were seated, and then wheeling off 

 to our left, was to work his way along the back of the 

 hills, so as to enter the glen by the pass through which 

 the herd had come two hours ago; and then if possible 

 to drive them in our direction. Meanwhile we crept off 

 to the shelter of some rocks which lay within a long- 

 shot of the pass through which, if driven as was pro- 

 posed, the deer would make their way. 



Here then we seated ourselves, in such a position as 



