CHAP, xxxiv.] COURSING DEER. 263 



Malcolm, and we immediately agreed that no time was to be lost, 

 lest they should take alarm at Donald, whose whereabouts the 

 hind seemed strongly to suspect. 



We had a difficult task in advancing the next fifty yards with 

 the dogs. The sensible animals, however, crouched when we 

 did, and were wonderfully little in the way considering the 

 nature of the ground which we had to pass. The old hind's ears 

 were visible, but no more of her, as we crept along ; she appeared 

 to be still intently watching in the same direction as before. 

 Having crawled over a small height, we got into a hollow place, 

 and then proceeded to put the dogs' collars and straps in a state 

 to enable us to slip them at a moment's warning. Both Bran 

 and Oscar stood motionless, and almost seemed to turn their 

 necks in order to assist us in the operation. 



We then advanced with great care and silence, on our hands 

 and knees, for a couple of hundred yards along a cut in the 

 ground that took us away from the burn. Every thing had 

 favoured ns, the deer's attention had been taken off by Donald, 

 and the ground had been the easiest I ever stalked a deer in. 

 We were now within about a hundred yards of them, and could 

 get no nearer unobserved ; so patting the dogs, and whispering a 

 word of encouragement to them, we led them in front of us, and 

 rising up in full view of the deer, pointed towards them. We 

 had no need, however, to show their game to the noble hounds, 

 for the deer starting up as soon as they saw us, were at once 

 caught sight of by both Bran and Oscar. Away went the deer, 

 those which were the farthest off waited for their comrades to 

 join them, and then all took the hill in a compact body, and the 

 d.)_s with an impatient whine darted oft' the instant they were 

 released from their collars. 



The deer ran in a sloping direction up the hill, apparently 

 not exerting themselves very much, but in reality getting over 

 the ground at a very quick pace ; the two dogs ran neck and 

 neck, not exactly straight at the deer, but almost parallel, slop- 

 ing a little, however, towards them, and gaining slowly, but still 

 perceptibly, on their game. This lasted for half a mile or so, 

 when the dogs had gained so much, that they were within forty 

 yards of the deer. Nearer and nearer they approached, the hinds 

 running in a close body, the stag now and then lagging behind 



