Militant Scrope 429 



hart stepped forth from the ranks, and stood singly for a 

 space in all his vast proportion. 



For a few moments he shifted his gaze from man to 

 man ; then he made a desperate charge, followed by the 

 rest of the body. It was evident now, that they were 

 breaking out on the west ; they all swept round behind 

 a low rise of ground in that quarter, at the top of 

 their speed. 



' Now then, Harry, run low, and do your best.' 



Down he and Tortoise came upon them, and arrived 

 just in time for the middle of the herd. Two fine harts 

 fell to their rifles. And again, as they raced by the 

 peat stacks, another party fired at them ; and they came 

 so close to the hill-men that they flung their sticks at 

 them, and had they not given way would have trampled 

 them to the earth. They now broke back over the 

 moor, and were no longer thought of. It would have 

 required much skill and many hours to get the wind 

 of them again. . . . 



There were six first-rate harts slain at the wood, and 

 two lesser harts and two hinds at the peat stacks. The 

 Duke of Atholl's deer (he had shot three in all) were the 

 largest ; for he had ever a quick eye, and an amazing 

 tact in selecting his quarry." 



Of the skill and daring of the deer-poachers Scrope 

 gives many illustrations, of which I select one. A 

 renowned poaching gow-crom (blacksmith) of Badenoch 

 was run down and captured by the Duke's keepers red- 

 handed, for he actually shot the deer they were stalking. 



" The notorious blacksmith was soon taken down to 

 Glen Tilt and brought in presence of the Duke of Atholl : 



