62 CHAPTER IX. 



With the greatest care and circumspection, moving snakewise for 

 the last hundred yards, we came out at last upon a minor hill of the 

 high hills, from whence a view showed us that further advance was 

 impossible. Donald* slipping the rifle from the case, at the same time 

 indicated by a gesture of his forefinger that I should come forward. 

 Field glass case and cap in my hand, I crawled level with him. I 

 had just time to identify the gray stag I hoped to make mine when 

 the big fellow moved into the recesses of a sheltering ravine and was 

 lost to view. 



From where I lay hinds were to my right front within 125 yards. To 

 where the stag disappeared was a bit better than 200 yards. The 

 depression into which he had gone ran at right angles to the direction 

 in which my rifle pointed, and it appeared to be a fault in the hill, open 

 at either end, both openings being visible from my vantage point. My 

 stag could go out at the other end, possibly 200 yards from the 

 point of entrance ; he might return the way he had come, or he could 

 move up the large hill which lay beyond the small one covering him. 

 In any event it appeared probable he would have to come into sight 

 before he could leave the vicinity. 



I got into position and made myself as comfortable as possible in 

 view of the driving rain which was now pouring down. Of course, 

 I was as wet as a man could be and quite as much, of course, I soon 

 grew so cold, so utterly chilled to the marrow of my bones, that I 

 shivered as with a chill, and my teeth actually rattled until I feared 

 the deer would hear the noise and take fright. 



I stood it as long as I could, then I whispered to Donald : "I'm too 

 cold to shoot if the stag comes out. We must do something." Silently 

 he beckoned to me and together we started down the hill on the 

 side opposite to the deer. For a little way we went cautiously and 

 then feeling confident that the high wind which blew over us would 

 carry all sound away from our quarry, we began to run swiftly down 

 the precipitous slope. 



We traveled for some hundred yards, when turning about, Donald 

 led me up along almost the same way as fast as I could move, until 

 he brought me out upon another little hill which lay just to the left 



