218 
WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WA YS 
CHAP. 
an uncanny body that brings nae guid, and my eyes 
are just that dull I canna see through my gless ; but 
I dinna remember thae stanes by the bit saft green 
moss near the tap o’ that dark corrie yonder.” 
A steady look with my own glass determined that 
the stones were hinds, lying down in the deep 
heather, near a spring in the mountain side. The 
question remained: “Was there any hart in the 
neighbourhood?” None could be seen; the hinds 
were about three-quarters of a mile distant in a 
straight line, but double that distance by actual 
approach. It would never do to disturb them, as 
their retreat would alarm any stag that might be 
lying within view. The only plan was to back out 
of sight, to take the wind, and to make a circuit 
round the hill, in order to come down from above 
them. In stalking a deer, you should always 
endeavour to approach from above. The deer 
seldom looks towards a height, but when standing 
upon an eminence, it looks downward upon the 
great extent, which from its elevated position is 
exposed to view. When you find it impossible to 
advance direct, and it becomes necessary to make a 
long detour, the work begins, and you appreciate 
the advantage of a thorough knowledge of the 
country. We were soon out of sight, and crossing 
a lower shoulder of the hill we had ascended, we 
hurried along the opposite side under cover of the 
ridge for at least a mile and a half, and then 
descending into a rocky torrent-bed, we commenced 
a careful ascent towards the summit. This was a 
