THE PASS. 197 



displayed, limbs and lungs tested, and the herd again 

 within a short distance, when once more a pause was 

 made to form our plans. But the day was drawing to 

 its close, the hours for the mid-day nap were passed, 

 and the deer were still uneasy and restless. Though 

 feeding, they were feeding away, and ever on the alert. 

 As they retired, however, so did we advance, from bank 

 to bank, from rock to rock, as concealment was 

 possible, seldom gaining upon them, but not losing 

 ground. At length it was clear that they were, by a 

 wide circuit, making for the strath which they had left 

 in the morning ; and Gillespie, in high spirits, assured 

 us that if we could only keep within our present dis- 

 tance of them till they should begin the descent of the 

 steep pass by which they would enter the glen, we 

 might then run forward and secure a good shot. This 

 was our only chance for to-day, and this plan we accord- 

 ingly proceeded to put into execution. The diffi- 

 culty, however, was, that since their direction had been 

 altered, it was impossible now to follow in their rear, 

 without our presence being detected by their noses, 

 and we were therefore obliged not only to keep pace 

 with, but to hasten on so as to outflank them. 



This required no slight exertion ; but in spite of 

 panting lungs, and palpitating hearts, we succeeded in 

 accomplishing it, and as the herd reached the head of 

 the pass down which their course lay, we were within 

 two hundred yards and ready to spring forward at the 

 right time. And now came the critical moment ; on 

 the next five minutes depended the success or failure 

 of the day. By twos and threes the deer were dis- 

 appearing below the outline of the cliffs which over- 

 hung the glen. At last there were only three in sight, 

 now only two, and now the ears of the shrewd old hind 



