96 DEER-STALKING 



by the thousand, and game of all sorts in corre- 

 sponding numbers. A hunt on such a scale is now 

 out of the question, and those who wish to amuse 

 their guests with a deer drive must make the best of 

 the means at their disposal. 



Enjoying some such freedom of action, deer in a 

 modern drive seem to be given a better chance for 

 their lives than is the case in stalking, or even in the 

 pursuit of any other wild animal so far as I know. 

 Therein consists more than half the pleasure and the 

 whole of the excitement of the sport. Anyone, even 

 he who has never before witnessed a drive, can see it 

 for himself and understand the situation. He ob- 

 serves the herd come over the skyline, a forest of 

 horns ; they do not dwell there long, but descend the 

 slope, stopping perhaps for a while on the shoulder 

 between two corries. Our imaginary sportsman may 

 be posted within a rifle shot of the burn at the bottom, 

 or some way up the brae face on the side of the glen 

 opposite to where the herd are now standing, with 

 their heads turning in every direction. It matters 

 not where he is stationed, the question he is en- 

 gaged in putting to himself is ' Will they or will they 

 not ? ' come within shot of him. He may continue 

 putting this question for a long time. Those who 

 have been engaged in moving the deer are perhaps 



