COURSING DEER 301 



Donald, and the ground had been the easiest I ever stalked a 

 deer in. We were now within about a hundred yards of them, 

 and could get no nearer unobserved ; so, patting the dogs and 

 whispering a word of encouragement to them, we led them in 

 front of us, and rising up in full view of the deer, pointed 

 towards them. We had no need, however, to show their game 

 to the noble hounds, for the deer starting up as soon as they 

 saw us, were at once caught sight of by both Bran and Oscar. 

 Away went the deer ; those which were the farthest off waited 

 for their comrades to join them, and then all took the hill in 

 a compact body, and the dogs with an impatient whine darted 

 off the instant they were released from their collars. 



The deer ran in a sloping direction up the hill, apparently 

 not exerting themselves very much, but in reality getting over the 

 ground at a very quick pace ; the two dogs ran neck and neck, 

 not exactly straight at the deer, but almost parallel, sloping 

 a little, however, towards them, and gaining slowly, but still 

 perceptibly, on their game. This lasted for half a mile or so, 

 when the dogs had gained so much, that they were within forty 

 yards of the deer. Nearer and nearer they approached, the 

 hinds running in a close body, the stag now and then lagging 

 behind a few yards, and then with a great effort joining them 

 again, his greater weight and fat beginning to tell on his wind. 

 Malcolm danced and shouted with eagerness : for my own part 

 I went along at a quiet trot, in order not to lose sight of the 

 run in case they turned up the hill and got over the height. 



Presently the dogs seemed to be in the midst of the deer ; 

 and the next moment we saw the stag coming straight down 

 the hill with tremendous strides, and the dogs ten yards behind 

 him — Bran rather the first ; his thinner coat telling in his favour. 

 As for the hinds, they dispersed for a moment, then collected 

 again, and went off up the hill ; being intent on the stag, I saw 

 nothing more of them ; they probably did not halt till they 

 had crossed the hill and the river too. 



Down came the stag at a pace and with bounds that seemed 

 likely to smash his legs every moment. Luckily for the dogs 

 the ground was (as it had been all along) most favourable. I 

 lost view of all three as they got into the course of a burn, 

 which joined the one we had come up. The dogs were then 

 at his haunches, but unable to get hold. Bran's point of attack 



