250 WILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS. [CHAP. xxxn. 



which I stationed myself. I kept both gun and rifle with me. 

 From my position, though I could not see Donald, I had a good 

 view of the deer. After waiting for nearly an hour, I saw one 

 of the smaller stags suddenly stop in his rounds, and having gazed 

 for a moment or two in the direction in which I knew Donald 

 was, he trotted nearer to the hinds, still, however, halting occa- 

 sionally, and turning an anxious glance down the valley. I saw 

 by his manner that he had not quite made up his mind as to whe- 

 ther there was an enemy at hand ; not having got the wind of 

 Donald, but probably having caught a glimpse of some part of 

 his cap or dress. 



The stag then stood motionless on a small hillock, with his 

 head turned towards the suspected quarter, though none of his 

 rivals took any notice of him. The hinds, one and all, kept a 

 most anxious watch on his movements, evidently aware that he 

 suspected some danger. In the meantime Donald seemed to have 

 got a little more to windward of the deer. Presently one old 

 hind got up and snuffed the air, then another and another, till all 

 were on their legs ; still they were not decided as to the danger. 

 At last a general panic seemed to seize the hinds, and they all 

 trotted together a short way up the hill ; the large stag had got up 

 also, but seemed not at all disposed to make off. The hinds carne 

 to a halt near the top of the first slope of the hill, and were joined 

 immediately by about a dozen stags, who, collecting together, 

 galloped up the hill to join them ; this seemed to arouse the old 

 fellow, and he trotted up after them. The hinds only waited for 

 his joining them, and then the whole herd set off towards my pass. 

 They had to cross a trifling hollow, during which time I lost sight 

 of them. When they emerged their order had quite changed ; 

 first of all came eight stags in a body, jostling each other as they 

 hurried up through the narrow passes of the rocks ; then came 

 the whole lot of hinds, mostly in single file, but breaking into 

 confused flocks as they passed over pieces of heather and open 

 ground ; next to them came the object of our manoeuvres, and at 

 a small distance behind him the rest of the stags, four or five in 

 number. On they came, sometimes in full view and sometimes 

 half concealed from me. Donald, too, now showed himself, 

 waving his plaid. The hindmost deer halted on seeing him, and 

 then rushed on to the main herd, who now all got into rare con- 



