THE SHOT. 45 



would come if they were to be out that day, and there 

 sure enough we saw them advancing. On examining 

 the intervening ground we found a good stag, some 

 smaller ones, and a lot of hinds with him. Of course 

 the approaching pforty had seen them also, and right 

 well did their man take his gentleman up. He had a 

 quiet standing broadside shot, and missed ; then another 

 puff of smoke was visible through the glass, and another 

 miss, and their deer were heading full tilt towards us. 

 A hasty shift of ground, about three hundred yards to 

 our right, brings us into position; a wait of a few 

 minutes, and past us theyall come, the hinds showing 

 the way, and the big stag comes last but one. We know 

 the glasses of the other party are on them, so taking 

 the greatest care, I press the trigger, and as the smoke 

 clears, there he lies stone dead. Turning round I find 

 my stalker dancing as near to a breakdown as any 

 Highlander dare when " on business," but he is smiling 

 pleasantly and vowing loudly that we are more than 

 quits with the noble earl who was reported to have sent 

 us the straight powder message ! 



It is always most amusing to watch through the 

 glass the stalking of another party their creeping 

 and crawling appears so comical, and they are so per- 

 fectly unconscious of being watched. N.B. Engaged 

 couples and honeymooners will do well to bear this in 

 mind if they are wandering in the vicinity of deer 

 forests ! 



There is usually a mutual understanding known as 

 "stalker's law" between forests where the marches join, 

 and that is, that it is permissible to either party, finding 



