CHAP. XXXII] STAG AND HINDS. 249 
though the tops of the mountains to the west were already 
brightly gilt by its rays, and the grouse cocks were answering 
each other in every direction. 
Having discharged our guns, which we did close to a steep and 
very noisy cascade in the burn, so that the report could searcely 
be heard beyond the place we were in, we dried the locks as well 
as we could, and after a meagre breakfast on the remains of the 
trout and some very wretched remnants of oatcake, we proceeded 
on our journey. The deer had moved from the valley where we 
had left them the previous evening; but Donald, who knew 
every mountain and glen in the country, having ascertained 
exactly the way the wind came from, led me off in an easterly 
direction. The sun was well up when we came towards the 
summit of a hill from which he expected to see the herd, and his 
anticipations proved to be correct ; on looking carefully down into 
the extended valley below us, we saw the whole of them. They 
had apparently finished feeding, and were retiring to rest on a 
hill side which faced the morning sun; the hinds were in a com- 
pact body, while the largest hart kept a little to their rear, and 
constantly employed himself in keeping off a number of smaller 
stags who were moving about ; occasionally one of these would 
make an impatient rush into the centre of the herd of hinds, bit 
was as quickly driven out by the large stag, who then returned to 
his post in the rear. When they had ascended to near the 
summit, the hinds began to drop one by one into the long heather, 
until they were all lying down, with the exception of five or six 
who kept constantly fidgeting about, turning their long ears and 
snuffing the air in all directions. The old stag walked quietly 
about, going round and round the herd; now and then lying 
down for a few moments, and then rising again, to see that no 
other stag intruded too near. The smaller stags kept continually 
circling round the whole herd; occasionally two of these young- 
sters would meet, but after a few tilts at each other, separated 
again and continued their watchful march. I saw no chance of 
getting near the big-antlered leader, though one of the smaller 
stags could easily have been shot. After consulting with Donald, 
I sent him to make a large circuit, and when he got quite round 
them he was to show himself in the distance to the deer. We 
reckoned on their leaving the glen by a particular pass, close to 
