242 FORAYS AMONG SALMON AND DEER. 



our progress towards the left, into ground to which they 

 would not have communicated an alarm. For some 

 time we advanced from rock to rock, from knoll to 

 knoll, creeping round each turn, with a stealthiness 

 that boded mischief, and examining every inch of 

 ground before us. At length, two deer were discovered 

 in a very exposed position ; both apparently in good 

 condition, but hard to approach. We crept on ; but, 

 after much manoeuvring, found that it was impossible 

 to come within 300 yards of them, without exposing 

 ourselves to view. Accordingly we sat down to watch 

 and wait ; hoping that they might presently feed into 

 better ground. Soon, however, one of them lay down, 

 and her example was shortly followed by the other. 

 And now we knew not what to do. They commanded 

 a full view of the ground in our front, and the little 

 wind there was would not allow of our approaching 

 from any other direction. For some moments we 

 remained quite puzzled ; doubtful whether to fire a 

 shot, with the probability of disturbing any other 

 deer, that might be near, and but small chance, from 

 the distance, of securing either of the animals before 

 us ; or whether quietly to move off, and try elsewhere, 

 leaving them undisturbed. 



While weighing the arguments for and against either 

 of these plans, we were surprised by seeing the two 

 deer suddenly spring to their feet, and dashing 

 over the brow of the hill on which they had been 

 lying, speedily disappear behind it. Evidently they 

 had been alarmed by something. But what could it 

 have been ? Though they were lying with their faces 

 turned straight towards our position, yet we had 

 remained perfectly motionless, with only our eyes 

 above the rock which concealed us, and our hair waving 

 in the gentle breeze like so much dead grass. We 



