CHAP, xxxii.] A RUSH OF DEER. 251 



fusion as they hurried on to the pass through which they left the 

 glen. The foremost stags were now passing one by one within 

 forty yards of me ; just at that point they had to make a spring 

 over a kind of chasm in their road. I kept quite motionless, and 

 they did not observe me, half concealed as I was amongst the grey 

 rocks. Now came the hinds, with a noise like a rushing stream, 

 amongst them were four or five stags ; they were trotting quickly 

 past me, when an unlucky hind caught sight of my rifle-barrel as 

 a ray of the sun fell upon it ; the rest of the herd took the 

 alarm from her manner, and they all rushed through the pass in 

 the most mad confusion. The difficult part was only a few yards 

 in length, and once through this, they got. into regular order 

 again. But where is their lord and leader? I was afraid to look 

 over my ambuscade for fear of turning him. Just as I was about 

 to do so, however, I heard his step on the stones, and in the next 

 moment he was in full view passing broadside to me, but going 

 slowly and undecided w hether to proceed or turn back, having 

 perceived the panic of the rest of the flock. When he came to 

 the difficult point where the rest had leaped, he halted for a mo- 

 ment, looking round. The next moment my rifle-ball passed 

 through the top of his shoulder, just too high ; the blow, how- 

 ever, knocked him down, and before he was up I had my gun in 

 my hand ; the poor brute rose, and looked wildly round ; not 

 knowing where the enemy was, nor which way to go, he stood 

 still, looking with anxious glance at his companions, who were 

 galloping off up an opposite slope. Expecting him to drop dead 

 every moment, I did not pull the trigger, but kept my aim on 

 him. The way the rest had gone seemed too rough for him, and 

 after standing for a minute gazing after them, he turned round 

 with the intention, probably, of going down the hill to some well 

 known burn where he had been in the habit of bathing, and cool- 

 ing his limbs. lie twice fell to his knees before he had gone five 

 yards, and then walked slowly away. I thought he might recover 

 strength, and taking a deliberate aim, I fired. This time he fell 

 without a struggle, perfectly dead. Donald joined me by the 

 time I had bled him, and examined the shot-marks. One had 

 broken the very top of his shoulder, but just missed the large 

 arteries; the other ball seemed to have passed through his heart. 

 The Highlander was vastly delighted at our getting the stag we 



