98 DEER-STALKING. 



forces us into single file. Soon we overtake the foresters, 

 each followed by a gillie, and they in turn followed by 

 two ponies with deer-saddles, led by their respective 

 men. The hills now begin to close in on us, and as the 

 procession winds along in single file, the four ponies, 

 their two riders, and six attendants make quite a show. 



We follow the course of a mountain stream for another 

 three miles, seeing several large herds of hinds on our 

 way. They do not appear to mind us much, merely 

 moving quietly off to the hill tops, and there staying to 

 watch us out of sight. As long as we go on they are 

 content ; if we stop and look they bolt at once. 



Arrived at the place at which we are to part, we 

 dismount, and wish each other good luck. My host, with 

 his invariable kind courtesy, has given me the best beat 

 and the head forester ; he and his attendants strike away 

 to the right, while I with mine go to the left. Before 

 doing so the pony-man is instructed where to look out 

 for us towards evening, so that I may get a ride home. 

 Then the business of the day commences. Ascending 

 the hill facing us we sit down for our first spy, and 

 quickly see a lot of hinds right in front of us ; to the 

 left of these are others, with one good stag amongst 

 them; and then to the left of these again another 

 herd of hinds, so that our quarry is in the centre of 

 the two. Now, what are we to do ? To try and crawl 

 direct to the stag would certainly expose us to the 

 view of one of the other herds. The direction of 

 the wind forbids all idea of getting round them; we 

 feel half disposed to leave them alone; but then if 

 we are to go forward at all we must disturb them. 



