THE PASS. 31 



Presently, however, to our delight, we distinctly saw 

 a deer. We scarcely dared to trust our sight ; but 

 there it undeniably was, and, as it slowly mounted the 

 brae, we made out, one by one, seven-and-twenty 

 others, following in the wake of their leader, a sight 

 which effectually restored our flagging spirits. 



Our position was a most admirable one. The whole 

 width of the pass was not more than 200 yards, and 

 the rock behind which we were stationed rose up in 

 the very centre of the narrowest part, commanding a 

 view far down into the glen before us, and over the 

 whole of the sloping side of the hill, except a space of 

 perhaps a hundred yards, which was hidden by a ledge 

 of rock running across the brae like a bar. Step by 

 step we watched the whole herd ascend. There were 

 three stags, with good heads, which mingled with the 

 rest ; but one majestic hart kept ever a pace ahead of 

 all, as though " the monarch of the glen. " deigned not 

 to mix among the common herd. The rest were either 

 " yeld hinds " (those who this season have borne no 

 calf), or hinds followed by their calves, which " skipped 

 like young goats " as they sprang from rock to rock. 



Our object was to remain concealed, if possible, 

 until their noble leader had passed us, and then to 

 shoot him ; or at least, not to fire at him until he had 

 advanced too far to be able to retreat down the brae 

 again, in which case, our shot being unheard amid 

 the howling and whistling of the gale, the rest would 

 follow unsuspecting, and we might then each single 

 out a head for ourselves. 



The deer were now disappearing one by one beneath 

 the above-mentioned ledge of rock which barred the 

 brae, and we expected each moment the appearance of 

 their chief; but after watching most anxiously for 



