King Edward VIIas a sportsman . great grey telescope is brought out and steadied upon theshoulder of a rock, minute instructions are given asto the exact spot to be observed ; and then, as if bymagic, the deer seem to start out of the ground,clearly defined and so close that the observer dropshis voice lest they should hear him. There are two,three, four stags amongst them. He is all impatienceto be after them, but John Grant is in no are ways and means to be considered, and thedirection of the wind is unfavourable. He slings thetelescope across his shoulders, picks up
King Edward VIIas a sportsman . great grey telescope is brought out and steadied upon theshoulder of a rock, minute instructions are given asto the exact spot to be observed ; and then, as if bymagic, the deer seem to start out of the ground,clearly defined and so close that the observer dropshis voice lest they should hear him. There are two,three, four stags amongst them. He is all impatienceto be after them, but John Grant is in no are ways and means to be considered, and thedirection of the wind is unfavourable. He slings thetelescope across his shoulders, picks up the rifle, andthey start on a long detour, which is destined to bringthem, by steep and rugged ways, to the corrie at thehead of the ravine. In an hour they are across theglen and half-way up the farther slope, and again thestalker calls a halt and insists on his charge taking a* breather before the final ascent. Then on againand upwards, on to the bare brow, and anotherhalt whilst Grant crawls cautiously forward and peers 122. y< ^ n^ CO u CO o K-1 A O ^ c; :^ ;< ^ u: — ^ H fN o ^ wu ^ ci ?i^ <: a K H Balmoral over into the ravine below. At a sign the youngPrince follows him, and now they are both crawlingthrough the tufted grass towards a lower ridge. ThePrince draws level with the stalker and looks herd is a hundred yards below them ; some arelying down, others are grazing quietly, and amongthem a good stag with his quarters towards Prince puts out his hand for his rifle ; but stillJohn Grant is in no hurry. He loads it quietly, andwaits until he judges that the Prince has had time torecover his breath after the arduous stalk. The stag,in feeding, gradually turns broadside to the watchers ;the stalker passes the rifle and whispers, Behind theshoulder, and low ; and keep your eye on him if youmiss, for the second barrel. There is a breathlesspause—then the report of the rifle echoes throughthe narrow ravine, is caught up in the corrie, flingsup
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookpublisher, booksubjecthorses
