DANGER OF WOUNDED STAGS 161 
get straight above them. The place was a green 
steep face without a particle of cover, but fine 
and smooth to slide down at a steady, flat crawl. 
When within 300 yards I raised my head up to spy 
out the best way. What did I see right in our 
path and under a small bank, and not over five 
yards away, but a small knobber ! To pass to 
either side without him seeing us was impossible. 
I turned to Mr. B. and asked him what he pro- 
posed we should do, but got no answer, and I 
then said I would pitch a small stone to make 
him move somewhere. I saw Mr. B. nodded 
assent. Then, after having a look to study the 
little stag's position, I lowered down and pitched 
a stone on a guess, when I heard a sharp click like 
as if I hit him on the horn. lie got sharply up 
and ran down at a terrific pace towards the near 
hinds, and they ran for a short distance down, 
when they suddenly all stopped and began to 
look sharply up towards us. I may admit I got 
palpitation, and from what I heard at my back I 
was getting no praise for my aim. Then we 
noticed the big stag, which was lying below and 
on the far side, rise, and, giving a loud roar, he 
made straight for the knobber, and drove him out 
and up towards us. But the little fellow got 
21 
