200 KED-DEER. 



they sprung up so rugged and precipitous as to be quite 

 impracticable to all but " the wild flock which never needs 

 a fold ;" and yet the cleugh below was like a green spot 

 upon a wilderness. To the very bases of the ridges it was 

 covered with verdant grass and blooming heather while, at the 

 upper end, streams from several well-heads united together 

 and formed a sparkling rivulet, which wandered between 

 banks so green and shrubby, as formed a striking contrast to 

 the barren heaths below and the blasted wilderness above. 



We put our bats aside, and peeped over. The wave of 

 Hennessey's hand proved the boy's report to be correct, 

 and we were gratified with a sight of those rare and beau- 

 tiful animals which formed the objects of our expedition. 

 They were the same leash which the peasant had noticed 

 in the lower valley an old stag, a younger one, and a doe. 



The great elevation of the precipice, and the caution with 

 which we approached the verge, permitted us, without alarm- 

 ing them, to view the red- deer leisurely. They appeared to 

 have been as yet undisturbed, for, after cropping the herbage 

 for a little, the younger stag and the hind lay down, while the 

 old hart remained erect, as if he intended to be their sentinel. 



The distance of the deer from the ridge was too great to 

 allow the rifle to be used with anything like certainty ; and 

 from the exposed nature of the hills at either side, it was 

 impossible to get within point-blank range undiscovered. 

 Hennessey had already formed his plans, and drawing cau- 

 tiously back from the ridge, he pulled us by the skirts, and 

 beckoned us to retire. 



We fell back about a pistol-shot from the cliff, and under a 

 rock, which bore the portentous name of Craignamoina,* held 

 our council of war. 



There were two passes, through one of which the deer, 

 when roused and driven from the glen, would most likely 

 retreat. The better of these, as post of honour, was, more 

 politely than prudently, entrusted to me my kinsman occu- 

 pied the other ; and Hennessey having ensconced us behind 

 rocks which prevented our ambush from being discovered, 

 crossed to the other side of the ridge, and I lost sight of him. 

 Meanwhile the boy had been despatched to apprize the drivers 

 that the deer were in the ravine, and to notify the spot where 



* AMjlice, the rock of slaughter. 



