XXI DEATH OF THE STAG 199 



behind the stag, but unable to reach his shoulder (the place 

 where he always struck his game). In a few moments deer and 

 hound went headlong and seemingly both together into; the 

 burn. Donald appeared running like a lunatic : with good 

 judgment he had, when I left him, gone to cut off the deer 

 in case I wounded one and it took up the hill. As good luck 

 would have it, the hinds had led off the stag right up to where 

 Donald and Bran were, notwithstanding his inclination to go 

 the other way. I ran to see what had become of them in the 

 burn, expecting to find the stag at bay. When I got there, 

 however, it was all over. The deer had probably tumbled from 

 weakness, and Bran had got his fangs well into the throat of 

 the poor brute before he could rise again.. The gallant dog, 

 when I was up with him, lay down panting with his fore^^paws 

 on the deer, and wagging his tail, seemed to congratulate me 

 on my victory and to expect to be caressed for his share in it. 

 A fine stag he was, in perfect order, with noble antlers, Donald 

 added to my satisfaction by applauding my manner of getting 

 up to him, adding that he never would have thought it possible 

 to kill a stag on such bare and flat ground. Little did I feel 

 the fatigue of our three hours' walk, two of them in the dasrk 

 and hard rain. We did not go home, but went to a shepherd's 

 house, whose inhabitants were at evening prayer when we 

 arrived ; we did not interrupt them, but afterwards the wife 

 prepared us a capital supper of eggs and fresh trout, which we 

 devoured with vast relish before the bright peat-fire, our wet 

 clothes steaming all the time like a boiler. Such was the death 

 of my first stag. 



FINDHOKN BAY 



