165 SHOOTING. 



us/ Instead of abruptly ascending further, tliey now slanted 

 along the face of the hiU, till they reached the watercoui'se ; a deep 

 gash, worn by a rapid and perennial torrent quite through the soil 

 into the Kving rock of the mountain's side. The rugged banks 

 were covered with dense thickets of the trees common to such 

 situations, which overhung the stream., or interrupted its course 

 with their fallen and Avithered boughs; the torrent itself dark, 

 foamino-, and impetuous, leading from rock to rock, and ledge to 

 ledge, in many a petty fall, and sometimes in cascades of consider- 

 able height and grandeur. The pass led by a pool between two of 

 these falls ; a deep furrowed ledge of rock afforded stepi)ing stones, 

 when the stream was low, by which au active man might spring 

 across. Having overleaped this obstacle, ^they soon emerged from 

 the wood upon the more open hill, v^^here the heather, although still 

 long and thick, was less tangled than in the forest, and the more 

 solid and less broken ground afforded fh^mer footing. The change 

 was very comfortable to Tresham, who now soon recovered his 

 failing T^dnd, and felt his sinews recover a firmer tone — and they 

 cautiously approached the crest of the height, to which they had 

 won their way with so much toil. 



" Glenvallich, now stealing forvvards, began A^dth cuiious and 

 jealous eye to soan through his glass the broad hollow, which rose 

 gradually above them. After continuing tliis survey for some 

 minutes in silence, he beckoned Tresham to his side, — ' Antlers, by 

 Jove!' said he, in a half whisper; ' I have them, and in no bad 

 place neither ; this will be our game, 6v I am mistaken. See — take 

 the glass, look tothe left of that v^^hite stump below the rock there, 

 close to a small single white stone ; there he lies, I can see him 

 with the naked eye.' — 'And I can't catch hhn even with the glass,* 

 repHed Tresham, after peermg through the telescope ; ' I see 

 nothing, Charles.' — ' "^'^^lat, don't you see that broym spot ? you 

 can't have found the place. By Heavens ! there's more of them ; 

 give me the glass — yes, faith, there are one, two, thi-ee hinds feed- 

 ing ; and their calves too — see, look again.' But it was in vain that 

 Tresham's unpractised eye wandered over the brown v/aste, until, 

 as by chance, the field of the telescope traversed the place, a slight 

 movement in what he had taken for a withered iDranch of some 

 decayed tree caught his eye. ' All ! I have him now, by Jove ! God 

 bless me } what a noble fellow ! how beautiful he looks ! and he's 

 Ijdng too — and there are the liinds — I see them also ; but how shall 

 we get at him ?' — ' Why, he'll cost us a scramble and a good blow, 

 no doubt. Perhaps we may have to climb the shoidder of Scoore- 

 vialach, and round by his top, that high peak yonder.' — ' The devil ! 

 that will be a job — but never mind ; anything for a shot at that 

 noble fellow.' — ' Well, he and his ladies are quiet where they are 

 for the day, and the men must by this time have got to their posts ; 

 let us go and attend the passes. You sec that black stump on the 

 brow belowus; take your station there, it commands llie whole face 

 below, withm rifle shot. I will go nearer the burn. If you see any. 



