230 DAYS OF DEER-STALKING. 



There was now no doubt but that the drive would be 

 spoiled. Many were the denunciations against the appalled 

 leashman ; his death-warrant was made out, for he was to 

 have no more whiskey, which was precisely the same thing 

 to him. 



But, lo ! when all were sinking with apprehension, affairs 

 took an almost miraculous turn : after the hound had forced 

 the herd in the manner described, missing the taint of the 

 blood, he suddenly turned back from them, and came 

 feathering along, making beautiful casts to the right and 

 left ; returning now to the burn which he had before passed, 

 he picked up the lost scent of the blood, and ran rapidly 

 down its mazes. Soon the wounded deer sprang up, and 

 went heavily before him down the stream ; out at once 

 leaped the cunning dog upon the banks, headed him about 

 a hundred yards, and then came back in his front, and held 

 him resolutely to bay. It was a way he had of shortening 

 the business. 



This happy termination was an inexpressible relief to all. 

 Tortoise went forward alone, creeping up cautiously by a 

 side-wind, and finished him by a shot through the head. 

 When the men returned to the hind, they saw the eagle 

 sweep down from the clouds, and wheeling over Ben-y- 

 venie, descend in all his expanse of wing, and perch himself 

 upon the blasted branch of a birch stump that overhung a 

 rock in the declivity. There the huge bird sat the whole 

 time the deer was being cleaned, gloating over the opera- 

 tions, and eager for the bloody repast. As soon as the 

 animal should be left on the lonely moor, he thought to 

 cower over him, uttering his shrill shrieks, and to plunge 

 his beak into the eyes, and pick them from their sockets. 

 But the foul bird shall be baulked of his prey. The 

 sagacious Corrie shall protect him ; Corrie, who will never 

 leave a dead deer without compulsion, but will coil himself 

 up by his side, and watch by him during the chill blasts of 

 a northern night, guarding him till the hill-man comes in 

 the morning to cord him on his sheltie ; then the good dog 

 will once more lick over his dun sides, shake his tail, and 

 fawn upon the hill-man, and escort him home to the 

 slaughter-house. Corrie would do all this as well as the 



