162 AIVIID THE HIGH HILLS 
round him, and ran again into the hinds with the 
big stag in hot pursuit. The big stag drove him 
down and across the river, which was the march. 
He stood on the bank and gave a parting grunt, 
and then began to drive his hinds up towards us. 
We at once began to crawl slowly down so as to 
get the cover of a small hump that was between 
us, which we managed to do in good time and 
get the rifle ready, for shortly we saw the first of 
the hinds appearing about fifteen yards to our 
left. They at once noticed us, but as we were 
then turned into two stones they only shied off 
a little and moved slowly uphill, except one, 
which began to circle round to get into our wind. 
I kept my eye on her to see when she would give 
the alarm, when we were to move over the hump 
and chance the stag being within shot. But 
before anything happened I felt a touch from 
Mr. B., and, looking round, saw the top of the 
big stag's horns appearing quite close. When he 
noticed us he stood with a ferocious look towards 
us. Mr. B. quickly took aim and fired. I saw 
the blood gushing from the stag's throat, low, and 
near his foreleg. He staggered and fell. Mr. B. 
getting up suddenly threw his rifle down and ran 
over to bleed him. I went to pick up the rifle. 
