THE PRACTICE OF DEER-STALKING 151 



be ungrateful to deny. The beauty, gentleness, 

 strength and speed of pure- bred deerhounds make 

 them not only delightful companions, but trusty allies 

 on the hill, where the power of scent is not required. 

 Strongly biassed as I have always been in favour of 

 these magnificent dogs, truth compels me to admit 

 that for the pursuit of wounded deer they are not 

 the most suitable. They are so high-couraged that 

 it is impossible to submit them to any course of train- 

 ing, while it is not in their nature to put their nose 

 to the ground. Thus it was always necessary to take 

 out two dogs, viz. a deerhound to slip at the wounded 

 stag, and a tracker of some kind to follow on a leash. 

 The former would generally pull down his quarry and 

 then return to his master ; occasionally he would lie 

 down beside the dead stag and remain for some time, 

 but in a wood or in a burn with steep banks, this, of 

 course, did not help matters, as it was impossible to 

 find either dog or deer. A few, very few, could be got 

 to stand bay till the stalking party, guided by the 

 deep note of the hound, came to the place and relieved 

 him from further responsibility. So that first there 

 was the chance of the dog seizing the deer by the 

 throat and killing him ; next, in case the latter was 

 strong enough and able to find some deep burn or 

 overhanging rock so loved by artists who attempt 



