BRITISH SPORT PAST AND PRESENT 



towards the burn or the rocky side of the mountain. One old 

 long-legged hind kept me in a constant state of alarm, as she 

 frequently looked in my direction, turning her head as if to catch 

 some suspicious sound. As for the stag, he never looked about 

 him once, leaving that to the hinds. I at last got within about 

 a hundred yards of the whole of them : as they fed in a group 

 turned away from me, I could not get a shot at anything but 

 their hind-quarters, and I did not wish to shoot unless I could 

 get a fair broadside towards me. While waiting for an oppor- 

 tunity, still fiat on the ground, a grouse cock walked out of the 

 heather close to me, and strutted on with head erect and his 

 bright eye fixed on me till he came to a little hillock, where he 

 stopped and began to utter a note of alarm. Instantly every 

 deer left off eating. I saw that no time was to be lost, and 

 raised myself on my elbow, and with cocked rifle waited for the 

 hinds to move, that I might get at the stag, who was in the 

 midst of them. The hinds soon saw me and began to trot away, 

 but their leader seemed determined to see what the danger was, 

 and before he started turned round to look towards the spot 

 where the grouse was, giving me a good slanting shot at his 

 shoulder. 



' I immediately touched the trigger, feeling at the same 

 time sure of my aim. The ball went true, and down he fell. 

 I began reloading, but before I had half done the stag was up 

 again and making play after the hinds, who were galloping up 

 a gentle slope of the hill. The poor beast was evidently 

 moving with the greatest difficulty and pain ; sometimes 

 coming to his knees, and then recovering himself with a strong 

 effort, he still managed to keep not far behind them. I sat 

 in utter despair : looking round too for Donald and Bran I 

 could see nothing of them. Between anxiety and vexation I 

 did not know what to do. All at once I saw the hinds dash 

 away in different directions, and the next moment my gallant 

 Bran appeared in the midst of them. I shouted with joy. 

 On came the dog, taking no notice of the hinds, but making 

 straight for the stag, who stood still for one instant, and then 



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