A VERY LONG SHOT. 103 



those which had been lying got up and joined .the rest, 

 and all fed gently away from us. 



"It is a very long shot, sir ; but try it, for you will 

 get no other chance," says John. I shake my head and 

 decline, but am again encouraged to risk it ; so pushing 

 the rifle quietly over a tussock of grass, I pick out a 

 good stag standing motionless and broadside on. I take 

 a long and careful aim, and press the trigger, and to my 

 surprise almost, the stag rolls over ; but, alas ! only to 

 regain his feet and dash off after his flying comrades. 



We keep perfectly still, and our glasses show that the 

 fore leg is broken close to the shoulder. We watch 

 them out of sight, and as they disappear over the sky- 

 line we rise. John says to me, " Yon's a very good beast, 

 and it will be a pity to lose him ; but if we follow it will 

 make us very late home." I tell him not to mind ; so 

 off we start on their tracks. Arrived where we lost sight 

 of them, we sit down and spy, but there is not a sign ; 

 proceeding again, we come to a burn, and John opines 

 we should find the stag lying by the side of this. 

 Cautiously and slowly we advance, keeping a sharp 

 look-out, for the banks are steep and broken, and we 

 may walk right on to him if he be there. Presently 

 John stops short, and gently reduces his six foot four by 

 a foot or more. He hands me the rifle with a grin on 

 his face and a satisfied twinkle in his sharp eyes, and 

 bending to my ear whispers, " I can see the tops of 

 his horns close to us," he points to a little hill and 

 waves me up. I crawl in, and soon see the wounded 

 deer. Poor fellow ! he is lying down, but looking about 

 on all sides, and very miserable. A few seconds elapse, 



