250 WILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS. [cHap. xxx1. 
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 whe- 
ther 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 motionless 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 stag had got up 
also, but seemed not at all disposed to make off. The hinds came 
toa halt near the top of the first slope of the hill, and were joined 
immediately by about a dozen stags, who, 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 manceuvres, 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 to the main herd, who now all got into rare con- 
