272 WILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS. [cmap. xxxtv. 
Donald had shot him just behind the heart with his single ball, 
which had cut the large blood-vessels. 
“ Puir brute, puir brute, it’s just a sorrow to see him,” said 
Malcolm: and, now that the excitement of the chace was over, 
I also would have given much to have been able to bring the 
gallant animal to life again. We got him out of the water, and 
were soon joined by Willie Young, who sighed more than once, 
and took a vast pinch of snuff out of Donald’s box, half sorry to 
see his old acquaintance, the white stag, as he called him, lying 
dead and bloody on the heather. 
As Oscar had got a rather awkward, though not very deep 
cut, and Bran seemed rather the worse for his bruises, I left 
Donald and the shepherd to attend to the removal of the deer, 
and walked straight for home with Malcolm and the two dogs, 
who had both of them done their duty so well. 
Of the different runs which I have seen with deer, these two 
were certainly the best, both as regards our having the game 
almost constantly in view, and as to our being well up at the 
conclusion of each chace. 
I certainly have not had much experience in running with 
greyhounds; but those who have, speak with raptures of 
this way of killing them. For my own part, I prefer my rifle, 
with a good dog. A high bred, English, smooth greyhound, 
sometimes kills red-deer well and cleverly, having the advan- 
tage in wind and speed over the rough dogs, and also possessing 
the most dashing courage when in pursuit of game. They want 
weight, however, to enable them to pull down so large an ani- 
mal as a stag ; though I have seen a small greyhound tumble 
over a deer, and kill it very quickly, by catching the animal 
under the shoulder, when in full speed, which at once upset him, 
and then flying at the throat, he soon finished the business. 
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