88 DEER-SHOOTING AND OTHER MATTERS. 



it was a stag rubbing and knocking his horns, and feel- 

 ing sure of his whereabouts, and that I should be able 

 to find him later in the day, I passed on to another 

 valley three-quarters of a mile off. Turning the 

 shoulder of a hill, which opened the valley, the first 

 thing I saw was the head and neck of a hind, and 

 immediately afterwards two more hove in sight. No- 

 thing like a stag was to be seen anywhere, and making 

 certain, as I thought, of the best hind, I fired. The 

 report appeared to echo, first on one side, then on the 

 other, and go repeating itself far away up valleys and 

 over ridges, reaching the very furthest mountains ; but 

 what was my chagrin to see a great stag, black with 

 mud and water, springing from a wet hole almost under 

 my feet, and before I could do more than pull the 

 second trigger in a hurry, he was over the ridge, and 

 out of sight ! Following the ridge round, I took up a 

 commanding position, and had my spaniel put on his 

 track. Away the little dog went, and was soon lost to 

 view in the tall grass and tangled cover. Out of this 

 she found it hard to drive the stag ; he dodged back- 

 wards and forwards for some time, trying in vain to 

 throw the dog off ; but at last he had to show himself, 

 and face whatever might await him. He was 150 

 yards below me, a difficult shot ; so hoping he would 



