THE AMBUSCADE. 177 



order, and act according to the movements of the quarry. 

 Macpherson, who was to go down Glen Croinie,was instructed 

 to keep in the rear till the deer were on the eastern face of 

 the hill above the glen ; prudently did he hold back, for 

 they were endeavouring to break out on the west : Tortoise 

 and his men, however, turned them without difficulty ; and, 

 after some hard running and considerable manoeuvring, they 

 took precisely the desired direction. 



But the drive, upon the whole, did not proceed with the 

 usual alacrity ; there was a sportsman (so called by courtesy) 

 upon whose pace the hill-men on the east waited, and it 

 was unfortunately a slow one ; he had several shots, which 

 were so injudiciously taken, that the success of the general 

 sport seemed to be in jeopardy : the deer, I believe, were in 

 none at all. 



"Why, now, Peter, what in Heaven's name can that 

 apparition be ? Take your glass, and see what like it is." 



" I see the man plain eneuch, for it is nae wraith ; but 1 

 canna joost say what like he is, for I never kent the like o' 

 him afore ; he's nae Scotchman, and he hasna the tread of 

 an English, for he aye gangs forrat on his toes wi' a wee 

 bit jerk. Haw, haw, haw, I never saw sic a dress on the 

 hills : do tak a giiff o' him through the prospect, yer 

 honour." 



" Ah, I see him, Peter, and I guess he is a Frenchman ; 

 but, with all his capering, he is as slow as a soldier marking 

 time. Merciful he is, for not a beast has he touched as far 

 as I can see. Surely he must be firing witJi blank cartridge; 

 but the deer are going right in spite of him, so I hope he 

 enjoys himself; but, at any rate, if he spoils sport in one 

 way, I am sure he shows enough in another. I wonder 

 what he thinks he is doing ?" 



And now the stately herd began to crown the summits, 

 and were soon descried from the glen, hanging on the sky- 

 line in long array. Those in the van gaze steadily on all 

 sides, onward move the others in succession, their horns 

 and bodies looming large against the sky. Heavens ! what 

 a noble sight ; how beautiful, how picturesque ! See how 

 they wind down the crags, with slow and measured steps ; 

 now hidden, and now reappearing from behind impending 



