THE SURGEON OF THE DEER FOREST 211 
darkness, I discovered the point at which I had 
turned up the burn-side, and found that the other 
path leading up to the burn was a little wider, 
which encouraged me to hope that my supposed 
explanation might prove to be the true one. I 
then waded across the burn and found tliere was 
a path at right angles to it on the other side 
which looked more used than the track which I 
liad just left. I therefore made up my mind to 
follow this path for a time, shouting every now 
and then in the hope that the men might hear me, 
and if I did not hear any reply I would then 
consider whether I would go on or retrace my 
steps to the old ruins and there spend the night 
— a cheerful prospect indeed. 
After going some distance along the path I 
suddenly heard what I thought was the sound of 
shouting a long way off. I stopped and shouted 
more loudly than ever, and then heard the shouts 
coming nearer, and very soon after Sandy and 
the gillie appeared. It turned out that what 
I had supposed had happened, and that they had 
crossed the burn thinking that 1 was still in 
front of them. 
I have never since then, on my return from 
stalking, walked in front of the stalker along a 
