BAD LUCK. 93 



been, and he himself quietly trotting away some four 

 hundred yards distant. This was very hard lines, as 

 the ground was cleared of sheep, and this one must 

 have strayed a long distance from his companions at 

 the moment it almost seemed as if on purpose to get 

 in our way. Having blessed that sheep, eaten our 

 sandwich, and discussed what was best to be done, 

 a gleam of sunshine coming through the clouds, we 

 settled not to follow this stag, but to go on to the end 

 of the ground, and see what that would do to change 

 the luck. 



Another climb, another spy, this time blank, there 

 remained but one more corrie in front of us. It is 

 getting late, and we push on as fast as we can to the 

 next top. There is no need to spy the corrie, for on 

 one side of it are quite two hundred deer of all sorts, 

 and easily visible to the naked eye. Between us and 

 them the ground is so bare that it is impossible to 

 approach. To try from below, for the same reason, is 

 equally out of tho question ; to venture it from above 

 would be certain to give them our wind. In another 

 hour it will be dark, so if anything is to be done it 

 must be attempted quickly. There is only one thing 

 for it : I am to go off alone, and post myself in a pass 

 below, while Donald goes round above them and gives 

 them his wind. There will be a good chance of their 

 coming to me when disturbed. Off I dash down-hill, 

 and in twenty minutes am safely in my place, about 

 six hundred yards from the herd. Anxiously I watched 

 them. Suddenly there is a move, and every head stops 

 feeding and goes up ; all stand at attention, and turned 



