CRUEL DEATH OF A DEER-HOUND. 67 



who passes over any one of them would infallibly faint 

 if he did not use something for the support of nature ; it 

 is therefore customary to carry a piece of bread in one's 

 pocket, to be eaten when one comes to what is called 

 ' hungry ground.' You ate enough, to be sure, but it 

 was at the wrong place." 



" What a narrow escape Derig had ! It reminds me of 

 an event which happened in Sutherland in the Dirrie- 

 more Forest. 



" A high-couraged dog was slipped after a deer among 

 the cliffs and crags on the eastern side of Klibreck. In 

 the heat and recklessness of pursuit, he fell down a slop- 

 ing but very steep precipice, and alighted on a narrow 

 shelf formed by a projecting piece of rock ; in fact, pre- 

 cisely in such a situation as my dogs were in, with the 

 exception, that these could be approached on one side, 

 whereas this poor creature could neither ascend the steep 

 bank from which he tumbled down, nor find any prac- 

 ticable passage by which he could escape from his terrible 

 position. The rocks opposed an insuperable obstruction 

 from above, and the precipice menaced certain death be- 

 low. There was no relief no means of rescue ; the spot 

 could not be approached by man ; and the poor animal, 

 expecting that assistance from his master which it was im- 

 possible for him to afford, kept up a continual howling for 

 succour during day and night. He continued to linger in 

 his frightful prison for several days, and the sounds of his 

 voice grew feebler and feebler, until they ended in a sharp 

 kind of whistle, interrupted by vain efforts to break out 

 into a bark. Every kind of project was considered, but 

 no means could be devised to save him, for the ground 



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