74 DEER-STALKING. 



searched the ground afresh. Suddenly a thrill goes 

 through me, and I can hardly keep the glass steady for 

 excitement ; another look, and there in that peat bog, 

 what is that little red motionless speck ? Can it be 

 him ! It is unlike anything my glass has found before, 

 and frantically I beckon Archie back for the telescope. 

 Quickly it was pulled out and brought to bear, and, 

 hurrah ! it is a " beast," at any rate. A small bit of the 

 back was all that was visible, and it might yet turn 

 out to be a hind. 



After a few minutes of anxious suspense, the excite- 

 ment increased as a grand pair of horns topped the 

 hag, followed by the body of a fine stag. I can see 

 him now as he shook the peat off him after his black 

 bath, and then standing at attention for a few seconds, 

 began to brouse. 



Though at least a mile off, Archie told me in a 

 whisper his plans for the stalk ; while doing so our 

 quarry again laid down, and we started to make a 

 long dttour to get into a burn beside which he was. 

 This was done at best pace, and then began the 

 stalk. While making this flank march, I explained 

 to Archie that I was bent on doing the last three 

 hundred yards quite alone. Revolt and astonishment 

 came into his face, and he began to " argufy " ; so to 

 cut the matter short, I told him it must be that, or he 

 could take the rifle and shoot him for himself. This 

 settled the matter, and with a whispered, "Well, sir, 

 you shall ha'e your wull," on we went again. Had I 

 then known as much about it as I do now, I should 

 never have thought of making the suggestion, for it 



