THE DEER HOUNDS. 51 



walking so stoutly, that I am sure you will not be the last 

 of the party ; and, to say truth, the mist that sits on the 

 peak makes it look higher than it really is." 



" Well, Davy, I see you have got Corrie and Tarff, 

 and you are right, for that eager devil Ossian pulled so 

 hard yesterday in the couples, that he must be quite unfit 

 to go out to- day. It was worse for him than running ten 

 chases ; why, you could scarcely hold him." 



" I dinna ken what sort of work it war to him, but I 

 ken weel enough what it war to me, for he pulled me heels 

 over head twice in rinning down Ben-y-gloe, to turn the 

 deer, him and anither, that's Oscar." 



" To try to turn them, you mean, Davy, but they were 

 over wilful, and gang'd their own way in spite of you." 



The party were now breasting the mountain, and soon 

 overcame the first ascent ; when, turning to the left, they 

 kept the northern side of Ben Dairg, and bore off towards 

 the east, till they arrived under that huge mass of large 

 gneiss and granite blocks which forms the summit of the 

 mountain. The ground here was strewed over with the 

 bones of calves (fawns), lambs, and moorfowl, which had 

 fallen a prey to the fox, wild cat, or eagle ; and it was 

 settled that traps should be set for the depredators. 



" What ! have you rabbits here ? I thought I saw one 

 run under the rocks." 



" It must have been a white hare, which is nearly the 

 colour of a rabbit in summer, and occasionally burrows 

 like him. There are no rabbits here." 



Lightfoot now suddenly seized the arm of his friend 

 with an earnest look and panting heart; and making a 

 signal for silence, pointed to a particular spot amidst the 



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