74 CHAPTER XL 



to the sight of the deer. We therefore made a stalk to a point from 

 which a shot could be fired if a shootable stag were found in the lot. 



Taking advantage of a slight depression here and there and by 

 very careful work, we finally came to within practically 200 yards of 

 the deer. When we looked them over there were three stags, one a 

 very fair sized fellow. I asked John what he thought. He answered 

 that though they were not "verra large, the General may shoot one 

 if he likes." 



Through the telescope I had pointed at them, that I might look 

 them over, the best seemed to weigh not over 185 pounds, and he 

 was evidently a young animal. I whispered to John that I would not 

 shoot, and we commenced a retrograde movement. We climbed back- 

 ward with as much skill as we had crawled forward, and rose to our 

 feet when the ground would permit us to do so, without having 

 frightened the deer in the least. 



It was rather a long walk back to the Lodge and there were times 

 when it seemed possible we might be able to make another stalk, but 

 no chance for a shot came, although just before dark, when we were 

 seated upon the edge of a long slope spying below, a young stag 

 put his head over a spur of our ridge about 250 yards from us. I 

 swung the telescope very quietly in his direction and had a fine view 

 of him while he waited and watched to see what we were. 



We sat perfectly still. The wind was from him to us and the 

 light was exceedingly dim. Every line of his tense neck and alertly 

 poised head bespoke apprehension and heralded instant flight if his 

 suspicions were confirmed. Finally, however, instead of the expected 

 rush from the dangerous locality, he withdrew very slowly, moving in 

 a direction at right angles to that required for direct departure. 



Waiting for ten or fifteen seconds and feeling him gone, we arose 

 slowly to our feet, when instantly, the head of the wily animal 

 appeared for a moment to as quickly vanish as its owner made 

 lightning progress out of the country. The clever beast had simply 

 temporarily withdrawn as a blind, feeling sure if we were alive we 

 would move and that a return after a short pause would disclose the 

 truth to him. 



