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



Donald had shot him just behind the heart with his single ball, 

 which had cut the large blood-vessels. 



" Puir brute, puir brute, it 's just a sorrow to see him," said 

 Malcolm : and, now that the excitement of the chace was over, 

 I also would have given much to have been able to bring the 

 gallant animal to life again. We got him out of the water, and 

 were soon joined by Willie Young, who sighed more than once, 

 and took a vast pinch of snuff out of Donald's box, half sorry to 

 see his old acquaintance, the white stag, as he called him, lying 

 dead and bloody on the heather. 



As Oscar had got a rather awkward, though not very deep 

 cut, and Bran seemed rather the worse for his bruises, I left 

 Donald and the shepherd to attend to the removal of the deer, 

 and walked straight for home with Malcolm and the two dogs, 

 who had both of them done their duty so well. 



Of the different runs which I have seen with deer, these two 

 were certainly the best, both as regards our having the game 

 almost constantly in view, and as to our being well up at the 

 conclusion of each chace. 



I certainly have not had much experience in running with 

 greyhounds ; but those who have, speak with raptures of 

 this way of killing them. For my own part, I prefer my rifle, 

 with a good dog. A high bred, English, smooth greyhound, 

 sometimes kills red-deer well and cleverly, having the advan- 

 tage in wind and speed over the rough dogs, and also possessing 

 the most dashing courage when in pursuit of game. They want 

 weight, however, to enable them to pull down so large an ani- 

 mal as a stag ; though I have seen a small greyhound tumble 

 over a deer, and kill it very quickly, by catching the animal 

 under the shoulder, when in full speed, which at once upset him, 

 and then flying at the throat, he soon finished the business. 



