WILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS 



hold. Bran's point of attack was always at the shoulder, 

 or fore-leg, while Oscar had a habit of biting at the hind- 

 leg above the hock, frequently cutting through the flesh 

 and tendons in a most extraordinary manner, and tumbling 

 the deer over very quickly. He had, however, not yet got 

 a fair chance at his present chace. Once in the burn, I knew 

 that neither dog could do much, excepting to bring the stag 

 to bay. I ran as hard as I could towards them, and soon saw 

 the deer rattling down the stream, with stones and water 

 flying about him in all directions. The dogs were still keep- 

 ing up as well as they could in the narrow and rough path 

 the stag had chosen, and sometimes springing at him, but 

 unable to get a hold. Malcolm and myself were in great 

 dread that they would be injured or killed. When within 

 fifty yards of us, both dogs were thrown down, after making 

 an ineffectual attempt at holding the deer, who brokeaway, 

 and, getting a little a-head of his pursuers, came to bay 

 under a rock in a pool of the burn which reached to his 

 knees. The dogs had recovered themselves almost immed- 

 iately, and, crouching in the water, bayed furiously at the 

 stag, who, with his back to the rock, presented only his 

 armed front to them. Knowing their business well, from 

 having gained experience in many hard-fought battles, 

 they did not risk their lives by rushing at his horns, but 

 contented themselves by keeping him there, while they 

 now and then looked round at Malcolm, as if to ask for his 

 assistance. "Down, good dogs, down," he said, when, see- 

 ing us approach, they seemed inclined to rush in. 



The deer now and then appeared anxious to break off, 

 but whenever he attempted to move, the hound nearest the 



438 



