DEER -STALKING. 61 



yards off, his profile in full relief, stoo^ as noble a stag as 

 ever " tossed his beamed frontlet to the sky." There he 

 was, like knight of old, every now and then sounding his 

 trumpet of defiance, and courting the battle and the strife. 

 Nor did he challenge in vain, for while we were admiring 

 his majestic attitude, another champion rushed upon him, 

 and a fierce encounter followed. We could distinctly hear 

 the crashing of their horns, as they alternately drove each 

 other to the extremity of the lists. " I wish the ball was 

 through the heart o' one o' ye ! " muttered the under- 

 keeper. His wishes were soon to be realised ; for the 

 younger knight, who seemed to have the advantage in 

 courage and activity, at last fairly drove his adversary 

 over the knoll and disappeared after him. Robertson now 

 rushed forward, signing to me to follow, and peeping 

 cautiously over the scene of contest, slunk back again, 

 and crawled on hand and knee up a hollow to a hillock, 

 immediately beyond : I following his example. When we 

 had gained this point, he took another wary survey, and 

 whispered that the hinds were on the other side of the 

 knoll, within thirty yards. It was now a nervous time, 

 but I could not help admiring the coolness of the forester. 

 Without the least appearance of flurry, he had both eyes 

 and ears open, and gave his directions with distinctness 

 and precision. " That will do; there goes a hind, the 

 whole will follow. Place your rifle on that stone, you'll 

 get a famous chance about eighty yards." "He'll come at 

 last," he again whispered, as hind after hind slowly passed 

 in review, when a roar was heard immediately below us. 



