CHAP, xxxii.] STAG AND HINDS. 249 



though the tops of the mountains to the west were already 

 brightly gilt by its rays, and the grouse cocks were answering 

 each other in every direction. 



Having discharged our guns, which we did close to a steep and 

 very noisy cascade in the burn, so that the report could scarcely 

 be heard beyond the place we were in, we dried the locks as well 

 as we could, and after a meagre breakfast on the remains of the 

 trout and some very wretched remnants of oatcake, we proceeded 

 on our journey. The deer had moved from the valley where we 

 had left them the previous evening ; but Donald, who knew 

 every mountain and glen in the country, having ascertained 

 exactly the way the wind came from, led me off in an easterly 

 direction. The sun was well up when we came towards the 

 summit of a hill from which he expected to see the herd, and his 

 anticipations proved to be correct ; on looking carefully down into 

 the extended valley below us, we saw the whole of them. They 

 had apparently finished feeding, and were retiring to rest on a 

 hill side which faced the morning sun ; the hinds were in a com- 

 pact body, while the largest hart kept a little to their rear, and 

 constantly employed himself in keeping off a number of smaller 

 stags who were moving about ; occasionally one of these would 

 make an impatient rush into the centre of the herd of hinds, but 

 was as quickly driven out by the large stag, who then returned to 

 his post in the rear. When they had ascended to near the 

 summit, the hinds began to drop one by one into the long heather, 

 until they were all lying down, with the exception of five or six 

 who kept constantly fidgeting about, turning their long ears and 

 snuffing the air in all directions. The old stag walked quietly 

 about, going round and round the herd; now and then lying 

 down for a few moments, and then rising again, to see that no 

 other stag intruded too near. The smaller stags kept continually 

 circling round the whole herd ; occasionally two of these young- 

 sters would meet, but after a few tilts at each other, separated 

 again and continued their watchful march. I saw no chance of 

 getting near the big-antlered leader, though one of the smaller 

 stags could easily have been shot. After consulting with Donald, 

 I sent him to make a large circuit, and when he got quite round 

 them he was to show himself in the distance to the deer. We 

 reckoned on their leaving the glen by a particular pass, close to 



