DEER STALKING. 235 



seen distinctly. The deer had separated — the hart and 

 doe turned suddenly to the right, and were fired at by 

 my cousin, without effect. The stag went right ahead ; 

 and while I still gazed after him, a flash issued from a 

 hollow in the hill, the sharp report of Hennessey's 

 piece succeeded, and the stag sprang full six feet from 

 the ground, and tumbling over and over repeatedly, 

 dropped upon the bent grass with a rifle bullet in his 

 heart. 



I rushed at headlong speed to the spot where the noble 

 animal lay. The eye was open — ^the nostril expanded, 

 just as life had left him. Throwing his rifle down, 

 Hennessey pulled out a clasp-knife, passed the blade 

 across the deer's throat, and, requesting my assistance 

 raised the carcass by the haunches, in order to assist its 

 bleeding freely. 



Having performed this necessary operation, and 

 obtained the assistance of two of our companions from 

 the valley, whence they had been driving the deer, we 

 proceeded to transport the dead stag to the lowlands. 

 It was no easy task, but we accomplished it quickly; 

 and perceiving some horses grazing at no great distance 

 we determined to press one for the occasion. A stout 

 pony was most unceremoniously put in requisition, 

 the deer laid across his back, and after emptying flask 

 and basket joyously beside a stream of rock-water, 

 we turned our faces to the cabin, where the news of our 

 success had already arrived. 



