40 THE MOOR AND THE LOCH. 



thoughtlessly called to the dogs. It was a low caution, yet 

 was distinctly heard by me through the thin air, and of course 

 by the wily deer. As the rifleman, however, was now on the 

 hill-top, and rapidly descending to his post, all seemed safe, 

 when at this critical moment, and never suspecting that an 

 enemy was marching parallel and would soon be in possession 

 of the defile, quietly emerged from the thicket the object of 

 our wiles. Scarcely able to restrain my impatience, I yet felt 

 sure that a " haste signal " would put the stag on his guard ; 

 but if left to his own devices, he might possibly linger until 

 retreat was death. The marksman, equally unconscious of 

 the magnificent trophy almost within reach of his rifle, stepped 

 briskly on, and was within rifle-shot of the pass when the deer 

 glided carelessly into it. Had he been aware of the position 

 of his victim, even now the stag could not have escaped ; but 

 by inadvertently crossing his wind the danger was instantly 

 revealed. Kaising his branching front, and snuffing the 

 " tainted gale," he vanished suddenly round the hill, and with 

 him all hope of adding to our list the royal head of the Gar- 

 rochree stag. 



As there were no more deer in Garrochree, the hunt was 

 sent round to the north end of Torlochan to beat up for the 

 south passes, which we had now to guard. My son having 

 chosen the low pass, where the last hind fell, I had simply to 

 face about, and walk a few paces forward to command the 

 high runs. A view of the distant sea, flanked by its noble 

 range of mountains, with the silvery Loch Baa at my feet, had 

 pretty well lulled my vigilance, when a single shot from 

 below roused me from my reverie. The three dogs soon after 

 swept through the low pass full cry, and, skirting the shores 

 of the loch, seemed making for the rough cover of Garrochree. 

 Although nearly a mile above, I saw a small object take the 

 water and strike out for the opposite side. Fixing the tele- 

 scope, I felt satisfied that the noise had scared a sheep (no un- 

 frequent result) from the low banks into Loch Baa for safety. 



