SEPTEMBER 219 



side, half asleep, yet half inclined to rise and begin his 

 evening meal, as some of the smaller beasts have done. 



It is very pleasant lying here before the westering 

 sun. Of all moods of womanhood, I am assured (I 

 speak not from personal experience) that none is 

 so captivating as that of a shrew in good humour. 

 Highland weather is often shrewish enough, Heaven 

 knows shrilly scolding in horrid blasts, and weeping 

 profusely ; but there is none like it when it is fine. 



What a bloodthirsty, treacherous brute I am, lying in 

 wait for that noble beast out there ! Why can't I leave 

 him to enjoy this peaceful evening ? After all, if there 

 were no such sport as stalking, red deer would long since 

 have vanished from these hills ; their lot is easier than 

 that of most beasts of the chase; carefully preserved 

 during ten months in the year, they are only persecuted 

 during two. 



At this point the big beast began to stir. Ah, drat 

 those hinds moving before him ! 



Now he is clear he rises and stretches himself 

 broadside on. One hundred and thirty yards, I think, 

 rather up hill yet must I take a fine sight, for the 

 Express throws high crack ! 



Forty animals start together with one bound, and 

 set off along the ridge, my stag among them. I have 

 missed ! No, he staggers rears, striking the air with 

 his forelegs falls backwards, and in ten seconds is 

 stone dead. 



' You have got the best beast on the hill to-day, 

 whatever,' observes Homo omnisciens, as he strips 

 himself for the ' gralloch.' 



