XXII 
THE DEER 
233 
when about the middle of September the autumnal 
tints have ornamented every leaf with peculiar 
brightness. Although we have emerged from the 
main woods, there are clumps of weeping birch 
with its silver bark, and golden leaves ; and rowan 
thickets bending over the rapid river, now and then 
reflected in the calm surface of a deep pool, where 
the salmon are lying waiting for a flood. This 
kind of rough scenery continues throughout the glen, 
the narrow bottom occupied by the river, bordered 
by a good road, while the mountains rise upon 
either side, and form the Grampian Hills. 
The afternoon was perfect; all that was required 
was game. 
Certainly the presence of many ladies brought 
us luck ; for, after scanning in vain a long expanse 
of country, we were suddenly delighted by the 
almost magical appearance of a stag ; he had been 
lying down behind a large rock a little more than 
half-way up the hill-face. He now stood regarding 
the carriages, and our large party, which included 
the keepers, and the two hounds from Forest 
Lodge. The stag was about 1000 yards distant. 
I was only afraid that he would commence a trot 
up the hill, and disappear above the sky-line; but 
fortunately we were upon the main road, upon 
which the deer were accustomed to regard 
passengers (although few), who did not interfere 
in any manner with their domain. It was there¬ 
fore decided that the party should turn back, and 
drive for about a mile on the Castle side of Forest 
