CHAP. v.J POACHING FOR DEER. 51 



they descend from the more barren heights to feed on the grass 

 and rushes near his place of concealment. On they come, till he 

 can actually hear their breathing as they crop the herbage; and 

 can frequently distinguish their ghostlike forms as they pass to 

 and fro, sometimes grazing, and sometimes butting at each other 

 in fancied security. His own heart beats so that he almost fears 

 the deer will hear him. Often his finger is on the trigger; but 

 he still refrains, as no deer has come into full view which he 

 thinks worth killing. At last a movement amongst the herd 

 apprises him that the master stag is probably approaching. And 

 suddenly the gaunt form of the animal appears in strong relief 

 between him and the sky, standing on some rising bit of ground, 

 within thirty yards of the muzzle of his gun. The next instant 

 the loud report is echoing and rolling along the mountain side, 

 till it gradually dies away in the distance. The stag, on receiving 

 the shot, utters a single groan, partly of affright and partly of 

 pain, and drops to the ground, where he lies plunging and floun- 

 dering, but unable to rise from having received three good-sized 

 pistol-balls in his shoulder. The rest of the herd, frightened by 

 the report and the flash of the gun, dart off at first in all direc- 

 tions ; but soon collecting together, they can be heard in the 

 still night, for some time after they are lost to view, going up 

 the hill side at a steady gallop. The poacher rushes up to the 

 stag, who is now nearly motionless, only showing symptoms of 

 life by his loud, deep breathing, and an occasional quiver of his 

 limbs, as his life is oozing rapidly away in streams of blood. 

 The skene dhu, plunged into the root of his neck, and reaching 

 to his heart, soon ends his struggles ; and before the next morn- 

 ing the carcass is carried off and cut up. Many a noble stag 

 falls in this way. Near the Caledonian Canal, which affords 

 great facility of carriage, the Lochaber poachers kill a consider- 

 able number during the season, sending them to Edinburgh, 

 Glasgow, or other large towns, where they have some confidential 

 friend to receive and sell them. In Edinburgh, there are num- 

 bers of men who work as porters, &c. during the winter, and 

 poach in the Highlands during the autumn. "\Vhen in town, 

 these men are useful to their friends on the hills in disposing of 

 their game, which is all killed for the purpose of being sent away, 

 and not for consumption in the country. 



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