122 A Sportsman at Large 



where with their spy-glasses they could observe the approach 

 of the deer ; when they were to signal to me to be ready. 



Time passed slowly. I had a fine opportunity of admiring 

 the surrounding scenery and of noting the bird life, such as it 

 was. I spotted a pair of ravens flopping about on a distant 

 cliff, and then, casting my eyes skyward, fixed them on a great 

 bird, high up in the heavens, and poised on wide spreading 

 wings a Golden Eagle ! The first I had ever seen in its 

 natural state. 



Then a single hind and calf came down to drink; but I 

 rightly concluded that this had nothing to do with the bunch 

 which I hoped to deal with. 



Whilst admiring the beauty and grace of mother and child, 

 I became aware that Grant was signalling violently, but I could 

 see nothing. 



I kept my eyes steadily fixed on the sky-line of the hill in 

 front of me ; as I judged, about three hundred yards away. 



Presently, in the fast approaching dusk, I made out shadowy 

 forms passing along the brow in Indian file. 



Surely it was the desired herd ! 



To my disgust the beasts went forward and made no attempt 

 to approach the tarn. 



Why were they not thirsty, as all good stags should be, at 

 the end of a perfect day ? 



Matters were becoming desperate. It was a case of " now 

 or never!" I adjusted my sights to three hundred yards and 

 selecting a stag which appeared to carry a " royal " spread, 

 took a steady aim and pulled ; only to see my bullet plough up 

 the ground under his shoulder and level with his fore slots. I 

 had evidently miscalculated the range. D ! 



Away scampered the rest of the bunch. I pumped in a long 

 shot at the last of the fugitives without any visible effect. 



At the same time, I heard a devil of a to-do and clattering of 

 hoofs in my immediate rear. I whipped round and what was 

 my amazement and horror on seeing the whole of the Royal 

 herd, which must have been within fifty yards of my " hide," 

 but which now were scampering off pell mell. Oh, the pity of 

 it! 



Grant and Anderson were up on their hind legs, dancing, 



