Old Smut's Buck. 235 



his bay, and, leaping up the bank, he gave a beautiful 

 run over the patinas, with the whole pack after him, 

 and Bran a hundred paces in advance of the other dogs, 

 pulling up to him with murderous intent. Just as I 

 thought that Bran would have him, a sudden kick 

 threw the dog over, but he quickly recovered himself, 

 and again came to the front, and this time he seized the 

 buck by the ear, but, this giving way, lost his hold and 

 again was kicked over. This had checked the elk's 

 speed for some seconds, and the other dogs were fast 

 closing up, seeing which the buck immediately altered 

 his course for the river, and took to water in a deep 

 pool. Down came old Smut after him, and in a few 

 moments there was a beautiful chorus, as the whole 

 pack had him at bay. 



The river went through a deep gorge, and I was 

 obliged to sit down and slide for about thirty yards, 

 checking a too rapid descent by holding on to the rank 

 grass. On arriving at the river, I could at first see 

 nothing for the high grass and bushes which grew upon 

 the bank, but the din of the bay was just below me. 

 Sliding through the tangled underwood, I dropped into 

 deep water, and found myself swimming about with 

 the buck and dogs around me. Smut and Bran had 

 him by the ears, and a thrust with the knife finished 

 him. 



However great the excitement may be during the ac- 

 tual hunting, there is a degree of monotony in the recital 

 of so many scenes of the same character that may be 

 fatiguing : I shall therefore close the description of 

 these mountain sports with the death of the old hero 

 Smut, and the loss of the best hound, Merriman, both 

 of whom have left a blank in the pack not easily filled. 



