THE MUCKLE HART OF BENMORE. 261 



bleeding stag, with his horns levelled at me, and cutting me 

 off from my rifle. In desperation I moved, when he instantly 

 charged, but fortunately tumbled ere he quite reached me. 

 He drew back again like a ram about to butt, and then stood 

 still with his head lowered, and his eyes bloody and swelled, 

 glaring upon me. We stood mutually at bay for some time, 

 till, recovering myself, I jumped out of the burn so suddenly, 

 that he had not time to run at me, and from the bank above 

 I dashed my plaid over his head and eyes, and threw myself 

 upon him. I cannot account for my folly, and it had nearly 

 cost me dear. The poor beast struggled desperately, and 

 his remaining strength foiled me in every attempt to stab 

 him in front ; and he at length made off, tumbling me down, 

 but carrying with him a stab in the leg which lamed him. I 

 ran and picked up my rifle, and then kept him in view as he 

 rushed down the burn on three legs towards the loch. He 

 took the water, and stood at bay up to his chest in it. 



" As soon as he halted, I commenced loading my rifle, 

 when, to my dismay, I found that all the balls I had re- 

 maining were for my double-barrel, and were a size too large 

 for my rifle. I sat down and commenced scraping one to the 

 right size, an operation that seemed interminable. At last I 

 succeeded ; and having loaded, the poor stag remaining per- 

 fectly still, I went up within twenty yards of him, and shot 

 him through the head. He turned over and floated, perfectly 

 dead. I waded in and towed him ashore, and then had lei- 

 sure to look at my wounds and bruises, which were not serious, 

 except my shin-bone, which was scraped from ankle to knee 

 by his horn. I soon had cleaned my quarry, and stowed him 

 away as safely as I could, and then turned down the glen at 

 a gay pace. I found Donald, with Bran, reposing at Malcolm's 

 sheiling ; and for all reproaches on his misconduct, I was 

 satisfied with sending him to bring home * the muckle hart of 

 Benmore,' a duty which he performed before nightfall." 



