110 VARIETIES OF SHOOTING. 



coursing through his legs, dashed the spray and mist around 

 him, and then, at one leap, went plump down to the abyss 

 below ; the rocks closed in upon his flanks, and there he 

 stood, bidding defiance in his own mountain hold. Just at 

 the edge of the precipice, and, as it seemed, on the very brink 

 of eternity, the dogs were baying him furiously one rush of 

 the stag would have sent them down into the chasm ; and, 

 in their fury, they seemed wholly unconscious of their danger. 

 All drew in their breath, and shuddered at the fatal chance 

 that seemed momentarily about to take place. Of the two 

 dogs at bay, Derig was the most fierce and persevering ; the 

 younger one had seen but little sport, and waited, at first, 

 upon the motions of the older, nay, the better soldier. But 

 his spirit being at length thoroughly roused, he fought at last 

 fearlessly and independently. Whenever the deer turned 

 his antlers aside to gore Tarff, Derig seized the moment to 

 fly at his throat; but the motions of the hart were so rapid, 

 that the hound was even compelled to draw back, which 

 retrograde motion brought him frequently to the very verge 

 of the precipice; and it was probable that, as he always 

 fronted the enemy, he knew not, or, in the heat of the combat 

 had forgotten, the danger of his situation. At this stage it 

 was necessary to act speedily ; and Tortoise having at length 

 gained a spot which commanded a view of the stag, prepared 

 to pour in a final shot. Three times the rifle was raised, but 

 each time the aim was abandoned from fear of wounding the 

 dog, or missing the deadly spot. At length an opening ; the 

 crack was heard faintly in the din of the waterfall the ball 

 passed through the back of the deer's head, and down he 

 dropped on the spot without a struggle. The dogs now 

 rushed forward and seized him by the throat, and were 

 obliged to be choked off. The men came cautiously on, and 

 began to lift the huge animal out of the water, two at his 

 fore and the same number at his hind quarters. At last they 

 laid him on the grass, then plunging the long knife into his 

 throat, and opening him for the purpose of gralloching him, 

 his head was bent back on his shoulders, a black flag was tied 

 to his horns to scare away the ravens, a little gunpowder was 

 shaken over him, and he was left to be sent for on the next 

 day with the aid of the forester's pony. Such is the account 



