THE SECOND DEATH. 139 



of some of my limbs ; until at length, when well-nigh 

 exhausted, and pausing for an instant to recover breath, 

 I found myself approaching a small mountain " tarn," 

 the stag still about two hundred yards ahead. On reach- 

 ing the bank, he took to the water without a pause and 

 swam out, while I stopped to recover myself and 

 watch his movements. The loch was of no great size, 

 and I purposed, having once made out where he was 

 likely to land, to hasten round and meet him. But I 

 was saved further exertion ; for, exhausted by loss of 

 blood, and the prolonged struggle, after swimming 

 about one hundred yards into the loch, the poor animal 

 was forced to relinquish his attempt, and return to the 

 shore. Concealing myself therefore behind a rock, I 

 awaited his approach, ready to put an end to his 

 sufferings, when he should reach the shore. Presently, 

 however, finding himself within his depth, the creature 

 stopped, and though I waited for some time, he did not 

 appear disposed to advance any further; wearied there- 

 fore of waiting, I put my gun to my shoulder, and 

 resting it steadily on the rock, aimed close to his ear 

 and fired. The ball entered the animal's brain, and 

 falling gently over without a struggle, he floated on his 

 side, a lifeless corpse. 



Thus, in a few moments I had slain one stag, and 

 given the finishing blow to a second. The sun had 

 now sunk below the horizon, the moon was shining 

 brightly over head, and a sharp frost was crisping the 

 heather and grass, while my own clothes were becoming 

 unpleasantly stiff and cold. Eeluctant therefore to 

 plunge into the chilly waters of the loch, I left the 

 carcase to float for awhile, and sat myself down, until 

 Walter and Gillespie should arrive. Presently I heard 

 their voices, as they came down the hill, and in a few 



