THE PRACTICE OF DEER-STALKING 159 



other ridge, and were out of sight in five minutes. 

 Now was our time, for the wounded stag was left 

 alone in front of us. He never attempted to follow 

 after the rest, but walked slowly forward in the direc- 

 tion in which he had been going. As soon as he was 

 out of sight I sent the stalker after him with the dog, 

 and knowing that the latter getting so close at the start 

 must turn him down hill to the burn, walked in that 

 direction with the intention of finishing him as soon 

 as he was brought to bay. Unfortunately, I did not 

 guess that the first part of the operation would be so 

 soon over, and I had not quite got within shot of the 

 burn, when the deer appeared on the skyline, a little 

 to the right of where he had disappeared from view, 

 and came best pace down the bank followed by the 

 collie twenty yards behind. No sign of any wound 

 now ! He galloped with long, firm strides, and head 

 erect just as well as any other stag in the forest. It 

 was simply amazing to see him move at such a pace ; 

 but as he had a long way to go before reaching the rough 

 fir and heather which skirts the shore of the loch, I 

 still hoped we should get him, especially as his course 

 would take him within fifty yards of a big boulder, 

 where the gillie and deer pony were always left when 

 we were out on that beat. There was, however, 

 nothing for it but to run as hard as we could after 



