CU. XXV. START IN PURSUIT. 81 



danger, when he first left the cover. On this occasion, 

 according to my friend's account, the great beast 

 had trotted quickly and suddenly past him at eighty 

 yards distance, and took no notice of the barrels 

 discharged at his broadside, though fired by a very 

 good shot, and out of a first-rate Manton gun that 

 carried ball like a rifle. My friend could not account 

 for missing him ; but missed he evidently was. 



I determined one day to start off" alone in pur- 

 suit of this stag, and to pay no attention to any 

 other deer I might see during my excursion. 

 Donald's orders were to meet me at a particular 

 rock, about eight miles from home, the next day 

 at two o'clock ; my intention being, in the event of 

 my not returning the same night, to work my way 

 to a distant shepherd's house, and there to sleep. 

 Donald had directions as to the line by which he 

 was to come, that he might not disturb one or two 

 favourite corries ; and he was also to bring a 

 setter and my shooting apparatus, as I took with 

 me only a single-barrel rifle and a few bullets. 

 I did not take Bran, as, being alone, I could not 

 be quite sure that he would not be in my way 

 when getting up to the deer, in case I found him ; 

 but I took a dog of a very different kind — a 

 powerful bulldog, who was well accustomed to 

 deer-stalking, and who would lie down for an hour 



e3 



