234 DAYS OF DEER-STALKING. 



course. They were all similar to each other, and the process 

 was a very simple one. When the herd attempted to swerve 

 from the desired direction, the men, who were far distant 

 on the opposite hills, had little else to do than to show 

 themselves in a line, so as to oppose their passage, dodging 

 with them, and taking care not to hurry or press upon 

 them rashly. Had they come too near, the herd would 

 have swept past them in a moment. 



" We must now keep back," said Tortoise, " for the deer 

 are examining the ground on the west, and are in no hurry 

 to advance. During this slow operation, I may as well 

 give you the history of Fraser's Cairn, which we passed 

 the other night, when Peter was so valiant about the laird's 

 ghost. 



" Tradition informs us that Lord Fraser of Lovat made a 

 raid into the Atholl country, and harried it on his return. 

 This raid was of so ruthless a character, that it was probably 

 executed in revenge for a similar irruption made by the 

 Atholl men on his own demesnes. On the Lord of Lo vat's 

 return with his plunder, one Donald Fraser, a clansman 

 who had acted a conspicuous part in the whole business, 

 asked the lord if he did not swear, before going out, that 

 he would leave neither horse, cow, sheep, or cattle, or even 

 cocks and hens, in the Atholl country. 'Ye hae done 

 brawly,' said he, ' and muckle gear hae we gotten ; but yon 

 cock that I heard crowing in the toun below us seems to 

 say that the aith is no that completely kept.' 



" Lord Lovat demanded if it were a dunghill cock that 

 he heard, or a muir fowl ; and upon hearing that it was the 

 former, he replied, ' This must not be ; it is against the aith 

 I made ere I set out : get thee doun to the toun, Donald, 

 with a party, and put the beastie to death.' 



" Donald did as he was commanded ; but upon his arrival, 

 the Atholl men, having had time to assemble, attacked his 

 party, and all were soon slaughtered, except Donald Fraser 

 himself, who was a powerful man, and fought lustily. He 

 was, however, shortly overpowered by numbers ; and they 

 proceeded to bind his hands behind his back, that they might 

 make use of him as a guide to conduct them to the spot where 

 the Lord of Lovat was awaiting the return of his men. 



