CHAP, xxi.] DEATH OF MY FIliST STAG. 173 



paces, and then getting into the course of the burn, got within 

 three hundred yards of the deer, but by no means whatever 

 could we get nearer. The stag was a splendid fellow, with ten 

 points, and regular and fine-shaped horns. ]>ran winded them, 

 and watched us most earnestly, as if to ask why we did not try 

 to get at them. The sensible dog, however, kept quite quiet, as 

 if aware of the importance of not being seen or heard. Donald 

 asked me what o'clock it was ; I told him that it was just two. 

 44 Well, well, Sir, we must just wait here till three o'clock, when 

 the deer will get up to feed, and most likely the brutes will 

 travel towards the burn. The Lord save us, but yon 's a muckle 

 beast." Trusting to his experience, I waited patiently, employ- 

 ing myself in attempting to dry my hose by wringing them, and 

 placing them in the sun. Donald took snuff and watched the 

 deer, and Bran laid his head on his paws as if asleep, but his 

 sharp eye, and ear pricked up on the slightest movement, showed 

 that he was ready for action at a moment's warning. As nearly 

 as possible at three o'clock they did get up to feed : first the 

 hinds rose and cropped a few mouthfuls of the coarse grass near 

 them ; looking at and waiting for their lord and master, who, 

 however, seemed lazily inclined and would not move ; the voung 

 stag fed steadily on towards us. 



Frequently the hinds stopped and turned back to their leader, 

 who remained quite motionless, excepting that now and then he 

 scratched a fly off his flank with his horn or turned his head 

 towards the hill side when a grouse crowed or a plover whistled. 

 The young stag was feeding quietly within a hundred and fifty 

 yards of us, and we had to lie flat on the ground now and then 

 to escape his observation. The evening air already began to 

 feel chill, when suddenly the object of our pursuit jumped up, 

 stretched himself, and began feeding. Not liking the pasture 

 close to him, he trotted at once down into the flat ground right 

 away from us. Donald uttered a Gaelic oath, and I fear I added 

 an English one. The stag that had been feeding so near us 

 stood still for a minute to watch the others, who were all now 

 several hundred yards away, grazing steadily. I aimed at him, 

 but just as I was about to fire he turned away, leaving nothing 

 but his haunch in view, and went after the rest. Donald ap- 

 plauded me for not shooting at him, but told me that our case 



