LIFE AT ROSEHALL. 35 



long and tiresome survey of the ground I could see no living 

 creature, excepting a heron, who was standing in his usual dis- 

 consolate attitude on a stone in the burn that ran out of the 

 corrie, adding by his very presence to the solitude of the scene. 

 " I don't understand where these deer can be," was my internal 

 ejaculation, " but here they are not ; so come on, good dog." 

 Another and another height did I pass over, and many a glen 

 did I scan inch by inch till my eyes ached with straining through 

 the glass. Nothing could I see, and I began to think to myself 

 that as it was past two and the shepherd's house was some three 

 hours' walk off, I had better turn in that direction ; so slanting 

 my course a little to the north, I pulled my plaid round me and 

 walked on. In deer-stalking, as much as in the everyday 

 pursuits of life, the old adage holds good 



credula vitam 

 Spes fovet ; 



and this said hope carries the weary stalker over many a long 

 mile. I came in half an hour to a large extent of heather- 

 covered ground, interspersed with a great number of tumulus- 

 shaped hillocks. I was looking carelessly over these, when my 

 eye was suddenly attracted by a red-coloured spot on one of the 

 mounds. I turned the glass upon it, and at once saw that it was 

 a large bright-coloured stag with fine antlers, and altogether an 

 animal worth some trouble. He was in a very difficult situation 

 to approach. He commanded a complete view of the face of the 

 hill opposite to him and over the summit of which I was 

 looking, and I was astonished he had not observed me, not- 

 withstanding all my care. As the wind blew, I could not 

 approach him from the opposite direction, even if I had time to 

 get round there before he rose ; and I knew that once on foot to 

 feed, his direction would be so uncertain amongst the mounds 

 that my chance would be small. 



After a short survey I started off at my best pace to the 

 right, thinking that from the nature of the ground I might 

 succeed in getting into the valley unobserved ; and once there 



