THE STALK. 131 



put it into execution. But the circuit we had to take 

 proved much longer than we had anticipated; and after 

 three miles of incessant climbing and running, we were 

 scarcely nearer our ohject than at first. Soon however 

 we had the wind in our teeth, and then altering our 

 course began the approach in good earnest. As we 

 were out of sight for some distance there was no need 

 of caution, hut presently we had to move with the 

 greatest circumspection and vigilance; pausing con- 

 tinually, to see exactly where to go next, and watching 

 lest the deer, having changed his position, should sud- 

 denly come in sight and discover us. 



Whilst occupied in this way, and running forward 

 across an open bit of ground, a sudden movement of 

 Gillespie's brought us all to our knees; and slowly 

 raising our heads, we beheld three deer, a calf, a 

 hind, and a stag, feeding leisurely and unsuspiciously, 

 rather less than a quarter of a mile to our front. 



We now paused to recover breath, and make sure 

 that the deer were not alarmed. After sitting for a 

 few moments, we again looked up, and still they were 

 evidently unsuspicious of our vicinity. Their heads 

 were all turned away, and the stag's wide anflers were 

 visible projecting beyond his haunches on either side, 

 as he slowly grazed along. Deer generally feed down 

 the wind, an arrangement by which they can scent 

 everything in the rear, while their acute vision detects 

 everything to the front. On the present occasion, 

 however, this order was reversed, and the deer com- 

 pletely off their guard, which gave us a great advantage. 

 The stag having a fine head, we cast to the winds all 

 thoughts of the previous object of our manoeuvres, and 

 proceeded to stalk the game before us. 



The ground being too open to admit of an easy 



K2 



