FURTHER DELAY. 239 



and three young stags, feeding along the steep side of 

 a hill, in a direction away from us. They were 

 quite unapproachable at present, but evidently working 

 their way towards a pass, through which they would 

 eventually emerge on an open piece of ground, the 

 undulations of which might enable us to get in upon 

 them. Again therefore we were forced to bide our 

 time. Sandwiches were discussed, a nip of whisky 

 dealt out to myself and Gillespie, and the deer at last 

 reached the ground to which we had expected them to 

 come. And now we were speedily following in their 

 track, losing no time about it, until we were nearing 

 the pass at which they had disappeared ; and then our 

 movements became caution itself. We emerged from 

 the pass just in time to see the last of the deer dis- 

 appearing, as they all fed down into a gully forming 

 the banks and bed of a small burn, and which afforded 

 us a favourable opportunity of approaching them, pro- 

 vided they remained in the hollow, until we had 

 traversed the small stretch of ground which lay most 

 hazardously open between ourselves and them. Soon, 

 however, we had overcome this difficulty, and were 

 congratulating ourselves on the prospect of speedy 

 success, when one of the hinds re-appeared, and lay 

 down in such a position that it was impossible for us 

 to get within less than three hundred yards of her. 



From the situation in which we found ourselves at 

 this moment, it was dangerous either to recede or 

 advance, lest the quick eye of the hind should detect 

 us ; and we were compelled to sit down behind the 

 rock concealing us, until the game should alter their 

 position. This is really the most trying part of deer- 

 stalking, both to the temper and the health ; for it is 

 frequently the case that these lengthened pauses follow 



