86 DEER-STALKING. CH. XXV. 



it was past two and the shepherd's house was some 

 three hours' walk, I had better turn off in that 

 direction ; so slanting my course a little to the 

 north, I pulled my plaid tight round me and 

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

 every -day pursuits of life, the old adage holds 

 good — 



Credula vifam 

 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 

 looked carelessly over these, when my eye was sud- 

 denly attracted by a red -coloured spot on one of the 

 mounds. I turned the glass in that direction, 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 conmianded a complete 

 view of the face of the hill opposite to him, and over 

 the summit of which I was looking, and I was asto- 

 nished he had not observed me, notwithstanding 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 un- 



