A STRANGE ADVENTURE. 91 



him, and, as it seemed, endeavouring to call him off; then 

 came forth a general shout of invective from all the party 

 as they ran forward. High above the rest rose the guttural 

 sounds of the iracund forester. 



In the midst of this tumult the hart broke bay, laboured 

 out from the Tilt, and went heavily along through the 

 birchen grove, being evidently much exhausted. Percy 

 followed close upon his traces ; then came the wild hunts- 

 man with whoop and hallo, dashing over knoll and rock, 

 through bog and through burn, till he fairly vanished from 

 the view. 



" Contrerauit nemus, et silvae intonuere profundae." 



" The man's dementit. But sure it's na man, ava' ; it's 

 joost the kelpie ; him that left the print of his fut on the 

 muckle stane up bye forenent the Tilt, where he grapt the 

 deer ; and the deer's fut is there, too, ye'll ha' seen it 

 yoursel' sir." * 



Toiling and jaded, the sportsmen followed as best they 

 might, replete with wrath, and venting threats of vengeance 

 from time to time as their breath permitted ; but not one 

 inch could they gain on the fleet-footed stranger. They 

 came up with the Highlander, however, and made him go 

 on with them as a prisoner. A word or two passed between 

 him and the hill-man, who, it seems, knew him. 



Percy's deep tongue again echoed through the pass, and 

 it was hoped that the bay would last long enough to allow 

 them to come up ; if it did not, they had no expectation of 

 outrunning a being whom some of the party took to be 

 supernatural. 



At length the stag was quite exhausted, and stood again 

 -at bay in the midst of the rushing waters. Always fore- 

 most, superior to every obstacle, and flaming with ardour, 

 in plunged the reckless sportsman, intent, as it seemed, on 

 close combat. Already was he making his approaches with 

 uplifted club, when Tortoise, who had gained upon him 

 during the bay, raised his rifle from a distance, the ball 

 whizzed close by the assailant, and down floated the mighty 

 hart, a lifeless thing ! 



These impressions actually exist at present, quite perfect, in the place 



alluded to. 



