DEER-STALKING. 179 



broadside not more than fifty yards distant, and 

 full of confidence I pull the trigger. 



A start, and a swerve on the part of the stag, 

 follow the report, and after standing still for a 

 few seconds, making one regret that my " toy " 

 has no second barrel, away all three go at a fast 

 gallop. Is it possible I can have missed ? Common 

 sense says, no ! At that distance, and with such 

 a target, impossible ! But even with my glass, 

 although he is certainly the last of the three as 

 they canter up the snow brae above us, I can 

 detect no sign of wound or weakness. My men 

 join me now, and on the old hunter's face is un- 

 mistakably the " I told you so " expression, not 

 only that, but even a look of contempt, and surely 

 enough he gives it words. 



"You have missed him," he says. 



"Wait a minute," I retort scornfully and con- 

 fidently, but with all confidence fast waning from 

 my heart, "keep your eye on him up the hill!" 

 Mine are both on him through my "binocular," 



N 2 



