THE PRACTICE OF DEER-STALKING 139 



species, requires both the aptitude which is almost an 

 instinct, and knowledge which can be only acquired 

 by long practice. Hence it is beyond question that 

 it is not advisable for the ' gentleman ' to attempt to 

 do his own stalking. There is no reason why the 

 owner of the forest, if it pleases him to do so, should 

 not go out alone, though then I suspect that in such 

 cases the only change from the orthodox method is, 

 that the man who carries the rifle is called a gillie, 

 and walks behind instead of in front of his ' gentle- 

 man.' I have tried stalking for myself, and in spite 

 of knowing my own ground thoroughly and having 

 specially good eyesight, experience leads me to prefer 

 the usual method. I am not ashamed to confess 

 that I like the presence of my stalker for the sake of 

 his company. To spend the whole day on the hill, to 

 witness the various incidents of the sport or the 

 phenomena of nature without anyone to share the 

 interest involved in all that goes on, deprives me of 

 half the enjoyment. True you have the gillie, but 

 he is probably young and shy, and cannot be got to 

 talk, while his conversation would likely not be 

 interesting. Your stalker, on the other hand, is often 

 more amusing than a professional dining- out wit, 

 while his descriptions of the performances of the last 

 few days since you saw him cannot fail, even though 



