82 DECIDED COURSE TAKEN. 



tumbling, in such perilous places as would have endangered 

 the life of a mountain-goat. Greatly to be feared he was, 

 as Polyphemus, when he hurled the rock at the Sicilian 

 lovers; but not Maclaren, or Polypheme himself, could 

 have put these reasoning animals into any state of con- 

 fusion ; for, being too distant from the tumult to be 

 under any apprehension of immediate danger, they con- 

 tinued to be perfectly deliberate in all their movements : 

 it was like calm dignity opposed to passion. 



The hinds last mentioned, which were opposite them, 

 on Ben-y-venie, collected and wheeled about, much 

 admiring what all these strange noises might portend. 

 Now had the decisive moment arrived when the thing 

 must terminate either one way or the other. 



But let us see what the rifle-men are about. When 

 they saw the hill-man storming, and heard the stones 

 coursing each other down the crags, they were aware 

 that no time was to be lost. Tortoise pressed his friend's 

 arm : 



" Now, then, or never ! Creep back quickly, and pre- 

 pare for action ; for, by Herne the hunter ! they are 

 coming -*- low, low, for your life ! We must get on to that 

 large stone, and they will all come into our very mouths. 

 Now, then, forward ! Take this rifle, and hold well at the 

 best antlers when time shall serve : be steady, and fire 

 well forward, taking care not to drop the gun when you 

 pull the trigger. By Jove ! I see the points of their horns. 

 Run low, low, for heaven's sake ! this is not our time. 

 Hark, I hear them in the crags." 



The faint clatter of their hoofs was indeed heard by all, 

 as they were picking their way obliquely along the rocky 



