150 DEER-STALKING 



The fastest runner in Scotland cannot catch him the 

 ground soon takes him out of sight he seeks some 

 well-known shelter, or else goes straight on end, 

 regardless of the disturbance to other deer, and 

 ignoring the arrangements of beats or of marches. 

 To follow him on foot, as you catch a glimpse of him 

 from one skyline to another, would be the height of 

 folly. The place would be spoilt for stalking for some 

 days to come, and the end after all would not be at- 

 tained. And yet ! The only valid objection that is 

 raised against the use of dogs in a forest is that it 

 causes such disturbance to the ground ! Why, a dog 

 that had never seen a deer, borrowed for the day from 

 the neighbouring shepherd, would soon put a three- 

 legged stag, if alone, into the nearest burn and enable 

 you to do something to secure him, so whatever dis- 

 turbance there might be would be confined to quite 

 a limited extent of ground. 



It will be seen that I have no hesitation how to 

 answer the question, Should dogs be used in a forest ? 

 Let us therefore consider what is the best kind of dog 

 for the purpose. First, as regards deerhounds. No 

 one has a greater admiration for this magnificent breed 

 than I have. I used to employ them for stalking 

 purposes during many years, and they added a charm 

 to the enjoyment of that form of sport which it would 



