210 SECOND DEER WOUNDED. 



easy to see any objects distinctly, and from the colour 

 of the ground and the many indentations, and winding 

 seams in its surface caused by the swollen burns in 

 wet weather, a hundred deer might have been within a 

 short distance, and yet have escaped our observation. 

 Hector, however, at length succeeded in discovering 

 the stag, slowly making his way to a part of the ground, 

 where several heads of crag were thrown up to a slight 

 elevation ; ledges of rock which looked as though they 

 had burst through the outer coating of peat, being 

 driven upwards, and almost tilted on end by volcanic 

 agency. There Hector was certain he would again 

 rest, and once more therefore we were off at full speed 

 to make a circuit in the rear of these rocks, and so if 

 possible get beyond our game. Intent upon this, we 

 were hurrying along and had almost reached the 

 ground where we expected to find him, when on turn- 

 ing the angle of a rock, we suddenly came upon a fine 

 stag and two younger ones. They were within a long 

 shot, and as they dashed away to our right, Alister 

 fired. The stag dropped to his knees wounded, but 

 immediately recovering himself, tore away at great 

 speed across the moor, followed by his younger com- 

 panions, who were shortly afterwards also joined by 

 my wounded stag. And now we had each a wounded 

 quarry to secure, and the sport increased proportion- 

 ately in interest. 



For several minutes we sat watching the animals as 

 they rapidly increased the distance between us, until 

 at length when almost out of sight they entered the 

 grassy hollow, down which the sparkling course of a 

 small burn was visible ; here their pace sensibly 

 diminished, and presently they had pulled up and were 

 looking back in our direction, occasionally advancing a 



