286 WILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS chap. 



their leaving the glen by a particular pass, close to which I 

 stationed myself. I kept both gun and rifle with me. From 

 my position, though I could not see Donald, I had a good view 

 of the deer. After waiting for nearly an hour, I saw one of the 

 smaller stags suddenly stop in his rounds, and having gazed 

 for a moment or two in the direction in which I knew Donald 

 was, he trotted nearer to the hinds, still, however, halting occa- 

 sionally, and turning an anxious glance down the valley. I 

 saw by his manner that he had not quite made up his mind as 

 to whether there was an enemy at hand ; not having got the 

 wind of Donald, but probably having caught a glimpse of some 

 part of his cap or dress. 



The stag then stood nlotionless on a small hillock, with his 

 head turned towards the suspected quarter, though none of his 

 rivals took any notice of him. The hinds, one and all, kept a 

 most anxious watch on his movements, evidently aware that he 

 suspected some danger. In the meantime Donald seemed to 

 have got a little more to windward of the deer. Presently one 

 old hind got up and snuffed the air, then another and another, 

 till all were on their legs ; still they were not decided as to the 

 danger. At last a general panic seemed to seize the hinds, and 

 they all trotted together a short way up the hill ; the large stagj 

 had got up also, but seemed not at all disposed to make off.' 

 The hinds came to a halt near the top of the first slope of the 

 hill, and were joined immediately by about a dozen stags, which, 

 collecting together, galloped up the hill to join them' ; this 

 seemed to arouse the old fellow, and he trotted up after them. 

 The hinds only waited for his joining them, and then the whole 

 herd set off towards my pass. They had to cross a trifling 

 hollow, during which time I lost sight of them. When they 

 emerged their order had quite changed ; first of all came eight 

 stags in a body, jostling each other as they hurried up through 

 the narrow passes of the rocks ; then came the whole lot of 

 hinds, mostly in single file, but breaking into confused flocks as 

 they passed over pieces of heather and open ground ; next to 

 them came the object of our manoeuvres, and at a small distance 

 behind him the rest of the stags, four or five in number. On 

 they came, sometimes in full view and sometimes half concealed 

 from me. Donald, too, now showed himself, waving his plaid. 

 The hindmost deer halted on seeing him, and then rushed on 



