CHAP, xxxiv.] DEER-STALKING. 261 



Gaelic imprecations against the dog for upsetting him, and 

 against Malcolm, " the muckle fule," as he called him, for 

 laughing at his mishap, he got under way again. In the mean- 

 time the roe had disappeared down some hollow of the ground, 

 and we proceeded on our way. 



After leaving the woods, we traversed a long range of broken 

 ground, where we had but small chance of seeing the deer, 

 though their tracks were tolerably fresh here and there; our 

 object was to find the animals in certain places more adapted for 

 the running of the dogs than the ground we were then passing. 

 We therefore did not examine two favourite but rugged and steep 

 corries, where deer were generally found. 



Our forbearance was rewarded, for on coming to a point over- 

 looking a long and wide stretch of hill-side, through the centre 

 of which ran a winding but not very rapid burn, we immediately 

 distinguished nine deer still feeding, though the morning was 

 somewhat advanced ; they were scattered about a green spot at 

 the head of the burn, and feeding on the coarse grass and rushes 

 which grew about the springs and marsh that fed the main stream. 

 They could not have been better placed, and after a short con- 

 sultation which, however, lasted longer than it need have done, 

 owing to Donald's determined and customary opposition to every 

 proposal made by his tall rival we turned back behind the 

 shoulder of the hill, in order to get into a hollow of the ground 

 which would enable us to reach the course of the burn : for, this 

 done, our task was comparatively easy. 



As the water, owing to the dry weather, was but shallow, and 

 the little wind which there was, was blowing right down the 

 stream, by keeping its course we hoped to reach the deer unob- 

 served. Before starting, I took a good look at them through 

 my glass, and saw that the herd consisted wholly of hinds, except 

 one tolerably handsome stag. The dogs instinctively perceived 

 that we had found game, and changed their careless and slouch- 

 ing trot for an eager and quick walk ; every now and then they 

 looked with pricked-up ears, and an inquiring glance at Mal- 

 colm's face, as if to ask him where the deer were, and how soon 

 they would be seen. 



Malcolm proposed to me that Donald should get up to a 

 height of the hill, from whence h could see for a long distance 



