260 WILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS. [CHAP, xxxiv. 



came in my way. Donald, however, was in the habit of relating 

 great feats which he had performed amongst red-deer with this 

 gun, and he always coddled it up with great care from wet or 

 damp, either when laid up in ordinary at home or when carried 

 by himself over mountain and glen. On the present occasion he 

 had a very snuffy and dirty-looking cotton handkerchief tied over 

 the muzzle, and a footless stocking knotted over the locks, to 

 keep out the morning mists. 



Our path for some time was along the course of the river, 

 where the great yellow trout were plainly to be seen in the per- 

 fectly clear water, waiting for the insects as they fell off the 

 weeping branches of the birch-trees which overhung the still 

 pools, as if admiring their own elegance in the water, where 

 every leaf was as plainly reflected as it would have been in the 

 costliest mirror ; and as we made our way up the hill-side the 

 autumnal air felt fine, fresh, and exhilarating. 



On coming out of the scattered wood which clothed the glen 

 on each side of the stream, we saw a fine roebuck feeding in a 

 grassy spot a few hundred yards out of the wood. I and Donald 

 also were much tempted to run the dogs at him, as he was so far 

 from cover ; but as Malcolm voted against it, I yielded, though 

 Donald was obliged to take sundry pinches of snuff before he 

 quietly acquiesced in my determination to leave the buck unmo- 

 lested. As we edged off from him in order that the dogs might 

 not see him and be tempted by his starting off to breakaway from 

 us, the buck lifted his head, and Bran's quick eye immediately 

 caught sight of him ; and the dog stood immoveable, with his 

 ears erect, and one fore-foot raised from the ground. The sen- 

 sible creature, however, instead of straining at his leash, looked 

 up inquiringly at his master, asking him plainly, " Am I to 

 chase that beauty?" Oscar, who was trotting quietly behind 

 Donald, who held him, but seeing that Bran had game in view by 

 his manner of gazing, and following the direction of his eyes, also 

 saw the buck. Not being so well broken as Bran, he no sooner 

 saw the buck than he sprang forward, pulling the old keeper 

 down on the flat of his back. Luckily, Donald had the strap 

 twisted round his arm, or the dog would have escaped after the 

 deer. As it was, Donald managed to hold him, and having got 

 up, rubbed his back, and vented his ill-humour in numberless 



