234 WILD SPORTS OF THE WEST. 



concealed, I commanded a view of the defile for the dis- 

 tance of some eighty yards, and my eye turned to the path 

 by which I expected the deer to approach, until to gaze 

 longer pained me. My ear was equally engaged ; the 

 smallest noise was instantly detected, and the ticking of 

 my watch appeared sharper and louder than usual. 

 As time wore on, my nervousness increased. Suddenly 

 a few pebbles fell — my heart beat faster — but it was a 

 false alarm. Again, I heard a faint sound, as if a light 

 foot pressed upon loose shingle — it was repeated. By 

 Saint Hubert, it is the deer ! They have entered the 

 gorge of the pass, and approach the rock that covers me, 

 in a gentle canter I 



To sink upon one knee and cock both barrels was a 

 moment's work. Reckless of danger the noble animals, 

 in single file, galloped down the narrow pathway. The 

 hart led the way, followed by the doe, and the old stag 

 brought up the rear. As they passed me at the short 

 distance of twenty paces, I fired at the leader, and, as 

 I thought, with deadly aim ; but the ball passed over 

 his back, and splintered the rock beyond him. The 

 report rang over the waste, and the deer's surprise was 

 evinced by the tremendous rush they made to clear the 

 defile before them. I selected the stag for my second 

 essay ; eye and finger kept excellent time, as I imagined 

 — I drew the trigger — a miss, by everything unfortunate ! 

 The bullet merely struck a tyne from his antler, and, 

 excepting this trifling graze, he went off at a thundering 

 pace, uninjured. 



Cursing myself, John Manton, and all the world, 

 I threw my luckless gun upon the ground, and rushed 

 to the summit of a neighbouring rock, from which the 

 heights and valleys beyond the gorge of the pass were 



