52 DEER -STALKING. 



" As sure as I'm leevin', he's eomin' on the very tap o' us. 

 Hold the rifle this way, sir, and shoot him between the 

 horns the moment his head comes ow'r the knowe." I 

 had scarcely altered my position, when head, horns and 

 all, appeared in full view. Seeing us in a moment, he 

 was out of sight at a bound, but, taking a direction 

 round the base of the hillock, presented his broadside 

 a beautiful cross-shot. I had plenty of time for delibe- 

 rate aim, and the Eed Knight of the Wilds lay low and 

 bleeding. 



It was now nearly four o'clock, and the forester had some 

 doubts whether we could get him to Inveruran that night ; 

 but as I was anxious to start early in the morning, we 

 despatched the follower for a cart, and with great difficulty 

 dragged the stag by th6 horns down the hill to the road. 

 Notwithstanding the weather, I had been delighted with 

 my expedition, and only regretted having killed the 

 younger and victorious champion instead of his more bulky 

 rival. During our walk to the inn, I had many anecdotes 

 of former bloody deeds in the forest from Kobertson, and 

 not a few where the balls had flown scatheless. One, in 

 particular, amused me. The Marquis, accompanied by 

 two friends one of them, I should imagine, more famous 

 for his scientific than sporting qualifications were stalking 

 some very fine harts. When within rifle-distance, his 

 lordship and one of his friends were crawling over a knoll, 

 in order to select the best of the lot. " What are they 

 about up there ?" said the virtuoso. " There are the deer." 

 Bang ! bang ! Off went the harts in a twinkling, wishing, 



