DANGEROUS POSITION OF THE DOGS. 63 



and deer; still he dared not hurry, though the moments 

 were so precious. 



Of the two dogs that were at bay, Derig was the most 

 fierce and persevering; the younger one had seen but 

 little sport, and waited at first upon the motions of the 

 older, nay, the better, soldier ; but his spirit being at length 

 thoroughly roused, he fought at last fearlessly and inde- 

 pendently. Whenever the deer turned his antlers aside to 

 gore Tarif, Derig seized the moment to fly at his throat ; 

 but the motions of the hart were so rapid, that the hound 

 was ever compelled to draw back, which retrograde motion 

 brought him frequently to the very verge of the precipice, 

 and it was probable that, as he always fronted the enemy, 

 he knew not, or, in the heat of the combat, had forgotten, 

 the danger of his situation. 



The stag at length being maddened with these vexa- 

 tious attacks, made a desperate stab at Derig, and, in 

 avoiding it, the poor dog at length lost his footing, his 

 hind legs passed over the ledge of rock, and it now seemed 

 impossible for him to recover himself. 



His life hung in the balance, and the fatal scale ap- 

 peared to preponderate. Still his fore legs bore upon the 

 ledge, and he scraped and strove with them to the utmost ; 

 but as he had little or no support behind, he was in the 

 position of a drowning man, who attempts to get into a 

 boat ; and, being also like him exhausted, the chances 

 were considerably against him. In struggling with his 

 fore legs he appeared to advance a little, and then to slip 

 back again, gasping painfully in the exertion ; at length 

 he probably found some slight bearing for the claws of 

 his hind feet, and, to the inexpressible relief of every one, 



