102 DEER-STALKING. CH. XXVI. 



this happen, I walked carefully on, and came in view 

 of nine deer, hinds and calves, who were feeding 

 quietly on a little piece of table-land close to the 

 burn. I also saw the long ears of another appearing 

 beyond and above the rest, evidently being on the 

 look-out. They seemed to have no suspicion of an 

 enemy, and when they stopped to gaze about them 

 their heads were turned more towards the plain 

 around than to the course of the burn. The 

 sentry too was seemingly occupied with looking 

 out in every direction excepting where I was. 

 They were not more than two hundred yards off, 

 and I judged that by advancing quickly the moment 

 that they turned the next corner, I should be able to 

 get unperceived within forty or fifty yards. The 

 single hind had disappeared too, having gone over 

 a small rise. I put on a new copper cap, and felt 

 sure of an easy shot : the dog, though he did not 

 see the deer, perfectly understood what was going 

 on, and seemed afraid to breathe lest he should 

 be heard. Amongst the herd were two fine barren 

 hinds, both in capital condition. I did not care 

 which of the two I might kill, but determined to 

 have one, and was already beginning to reckon on 

 Donald's delight at my luck in getting a fine hind 

 as well as the stag I had killed yesterday. All 

 the hinds had now gone out of sight, and I moved 



