166 DAYS OF DEER-STALKING. 



And lo ! while his life the miscreant ends, 

 On a column of smoke what fiend ascends ? 

 'T is the Witch, who in curses vents her ire, 

 As scorch'd she flies from the raging fire. 



All view'd the Witch in strange surprise, 

 But what she was could none devise, 

 Till St. Andrew's Day had come and flown, 

 Then made sweet Willie the secret known. 



And he told, how thrice he had managed to save 

 His Lord, when he stood on the brink of the Grave ; 

 And he told how his Lord had paid him with blows 

 For snatching his life from deadly foes. 



Lord Atholl, he gave sweet Willie his hand, 

 And he gave him gold, and he gave him land, 

 And he gave him a wife, who was fit to be queen, 

 'T was his lovely daughter Gallantine. 



Now if lords and if ladies are curious to know 

 What became of the Witch when she left Ben-y-gloe, 

 'T is right to inform them, for fear of mistakes, 

 That home she went, and finish'd her snakes. 



CHAPTER VII. 



Deer-drive to Glen Tilt. Anticipated sport. The deer-stalker's rhymes. The start from 

 Bruar Lodge. Combat of stag's. Cautious exploring. Stalking the great Braemar 

 hart. The shot and bay, Preparation for driving the deer. Dal nacardoc chamois. 

 A French sportsman. The ambuscade, skirmish, and slaughter. Shot at the 

 black deer. The party assembled. The last hart brought to bay. The bay broken. 

 The death-shot. A carpet knight. Condoling with a victim. The Count's adven- 

 ture. Chase and capture of a poacher. A quiet shot. Granting a favour. Ter- 

 mination of the day's sj>ort. 



" Ye shall be set at such a tryst, 

 That hart and hind shall come to your f yst. " 



Squyer oflowe Degre. 



THE lord of the forest had now determined upon having a 

 grand deer-drive to Glen Tilt, and Lightfoot was invited 

 to make one of the party ; thus, in a short time, this for- 

 tunate sportsman had an opportunity of seeing every 

 variety and description of this interesting chase. That the 

 show of deer might be as ample as possible, Tortoise had 



