50 LIFE AT ROSEHALL. 



information ; and on my questioning him how he had got at the 

 deer, etc., he told me that, as he came to me, he had seen a crippled 

 stag coming slowly over the ground exactly towards him ; and 

 that having stooped down and loaded the gun he carried as quickly 

 as he could, he had waited till the stag passed within twenty 

 yards of him ; that he then fired both barrels, one at his head and 

 neck ; that one ball had broken off a portion of the deer's horn, 

 while the other had passed through his body, tumbling him over : 

 but that he had quickly recovered and made off in my direction, 

 and was probably now in the burn over the next hill. " But you 

 are aye smiling, sir ; and I ken weel that you've seen more of the 

 brute than you tell me." I told the old man exactly where he 

 was ; and having made him quite understand the very rock he 

 was behind, I gave him the rifle to finish the work he had com- 

 menced, while I sat down with the two dogs in full view of the 

 pool, in order to keep the attention of the stag occupied. 



" N"ow then, Donald, take care ; don't be in a hurry, and hit 

 him on the heart or the head." 



" No fear, no fear ; if I put out," said Donald, " ye needna 

 mind, the beast is as gude as killed already." 



Then taking a prodigious spoonful of snuff to clear his brain, 

 and divesting himself of his gamebag and other encumbrances, he 

 set off. He reached a mound within thirty yards of the stag, and 

 lying flat on his stomach, with his rifle resting on the bank, he 

 aimed long and steadily ; then, with sundry kicks and contortions, 

 screwing himself into an attitude that pleased him more, he took 

 another aim, and then a good strong pull at the trigger but in 

 vain, as he had not cocked the rifle. Without taking it off the 

 rest over the bank, he pulled back the hammer and fired instantly, 

 missing the stag entirely. Donald was too astonished to move ; 

 but not so the stag, who jumped up and made off going, however, 

 so stiffly and lamely that I saw the dogs must bring him to 

 immediately. So I let them go, and in a very short time they 

 had the poor beast on the ground, and were both fixed on him 

 like leeches, the bull-dog on his throat and the pointer worrying 

 at his shoulder. 



