188 SUCCESSFUL STALK. 



along the rock, I slowly advanced my gun over its 

 edge, and then myself cautiously peered into the hollow 

 below. What a sight greeted my eye ! Within sixty 

 yards were two stags and a couple of hinds, feeding fear- 

 lessly, in total ignorance of our vicinity. It seemed 

 cruel to mar the happiness of such a scene, and yet the 

 opportunity was not to be lost. I aimed at the largest 

 stag, and fired. The effect produced was curious. 

 Confused by the echoes, which rebounded from the, 

 rocks in every direction, and utterly uncertain in what 

 quarter the enemy was situated, the four animals 

 rushed together, and stood as though in deep consul- 

 tation, forming a most beautiful group, and still within 

 an easy shot. My ball did not appear to have taken 

 effect ; aiming therefore a second time at the same 

 animal, and with more care than before, I again fired, 

 and this time the shot told effectually. The poor 

 creature staggered a few paces forward, and then fell to 

 the ground. There was no time however for exul- 

 tation ; the other three were still in confusion and 

 dismay, uncertain which way to run; and Walter, 

 stepping forward, fired at the remaining stag. The 

 first barrel wounded ; the second was a failure ; and 

 the stag began to make off at a slow pace, preceded at 

 a short distance by the hinds. 



Meanwhile my gun was reloaded, and leaving W r alter 

 to " gralloch " the prostrate animal, I sprang forward 

 in pursuit of the wounded fugitive. 



Elated by success, and animated by hopes of further 

 slaughter, I scarce heeded where I was going. On 

 however I went, in hot pursuit, at one time plunging 

 into a bog, the bottom of which I never reached ; at 

 another, leaping recklessly down the face of a crag ; 

 and more than once wonderfully escaping the fracture 



