264 THE STAG OF KERENAIG-MUND. 



out made signs, and I hastened up to him ; he had seen two of 

 the dogs in chase of a deer far away on the opposite side of a 

 deep and densely wooded ravine, too far off to tell if it was a 

 stag, but he said the deer went as if crippled ; the only spark 

 of hope was that they were coming back in our direction and 

 not going away from us. After waiting a short time not 

 knowing exactly what to do, there was a rush in the wood 

 below us, and to my great delight out came the stag with 

 two of the dogs at his flank, I saw he was quite done and was 

 making down the open hill side for the stream below. He 

 dashed into it and stood at bay ; stalking carefully down I 

 put a ball behind the shoulder and thus ended one of the 

 most exciting day's sport I have had for a long while. To 

 show how strong these big stags are, I may mention that my 

 first shot had entered near the point of the shoulder, passed 

 through the lower part of the chest, and through the opposite 

 leg below the elbow, without breaking the bone. I fired my 

 my first shot at him about eight o'clock a.m., and brought him 

 to bay about a quarter to three p.m. The variations between 

 hope and despair during the day were great, but the finish 

 was fine. 



One morning, when at Kerenaig-mund, I went out soon 

 after dawn to the Neild Field, in hopes of meeting with a 

 fine stag which frequented it. The morning was beautifully 

 clear, but it soon came on to blow half a gale of wind and 

 not a sambur was out; I watched till half past nine then 

 had my breakfast, and was out in the field again at half past 

 two. Nothing came out ; and as I was cogitating on my 

 bad luck I suddenly saw the spreading antlers of a noble 

 stag appear on the other side of the slope about fifty paces 

 from me ; he stood staring at me, I could only see his head 



