. Sport . lf-expectedto find him, and, most favourable sign of all, forus, deserted by his escort. Still, as I cannot tellhow far he may be incapacitated from the use ofhis locomotive powers, and as there is nothing sowatchful—poor brute !—as a wounded deer, extremecaution is necessary to get in at him. Theground, however, is favourable, and I contrive toget within 100 yards of him, when I unfortunatelydislodge a loose stone, which clatters with horriddisturbance of the stillness down the steep belowme, when he rises and walks languidly across thesnow, turning his head towards me. Ah me! Ican
. Sport . lf-expectedto find him, and, most favourable sign of all, forus, deserted by his escort. Still, as I cannot tellhow far he may be incapacitated from the use ofhis locomotive powers, and as there is nothing sowatchful—poor brute !—as a wounded deer, extremecaution is necessary to get in at him. Theground, however, is favourable, and I contrive toget within 100 yards of him, when I unfortunatelydislodge a loose stone, which clatters with horriddisturbance of the stillness down the steep belowme, when he rises and walks languidly across thesnow, turning his head towards me. Ah me! Ican see the sort of piteous look now, as if con-scious of my presence and purpose. The distanceis full far for the toy, as he passes about 130yards off, but he offers a fair broadside shot, infull relief against the white background, and I am o 194 SPORT. too eaorer to refuse it, thouo;h the old hunter bes^s me to wait; and, taking a full sight behind the shoulder—he is far above me—I fire, and plainly. HAN FALDER. hear the crack of the bullet against his side. HeLie^ms to take no notice of this, beyond quietlymoving on again, without even a start or swerve. DEERSTALKING. 195 I am puzzled and vexed. Load quick, whispersthe old hunter, and I hurriedly do so; but asI am in the act of ramming down the bullet—itwas long before the days of the blessed breech-loader—he—the old hunter—utterly abandoning thesotto voce of the hills, shouts aloud, Hanfalder ! He falls!—which, indeed, looking upfrom my task I see him doing, tumbling forwardon his knees, and breaking, alas 1 one of his splendidhorns the while—and is off full-speed over thesnow, up-hill and steep as it is ; and, old as he is,he has reached the stag, and, with butcherous anduneducated violence, has cut a great hole in histhroat, through which he pulls and completely seversthe windpipe, before I, young as I am, can getup to him with my reloaded weapon. He is agrand beast, the dimensions of his feet alone, thed
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, booksubj, booksubjectfishing, booksubjecthunting
