DISAPPOINTMENT. 83 



ridge; and the stones that they put in motion coursed 

 each other down the steep, and gave forth a sound which, 

 becoming fainter and fainter, died gradually away, as they 

 rolled into the depth below. 



But how uncertain are all the chances of the chase ! 

 How Fortune loves to baffle us ! and how wise the Romans 

 were to worship her as a deity, and erect a temple to her 

 honour ! 



The goddess sulked unpropitious, and her frowns were 

 met by Tortoise with the following eloquent exclamations, 

 uttered, as was meet, sotto vocc : 



" Death and destruction ! they arc turning away. Oh ! 

 what a fine chance lost : they were coming up so beauti- 

 fully ! Confound ye all, ye regular set of misbegotten imps ; 

 don't you know your own minds ? But you shall have a 

 run for it yet : Guai a voi, anime prave ! 



" Come along your best pace, Harry, for the hinds arc 

 started, and our parcel is racing up to them : keep you 

 above me, which will save you ground ; and, Peter, do 

 you stalk the deer, and I will stalk you, which will give 

 me a pull also. We will make a push for it yet." 



In pursuance of this arrangement, Fraser peered down 

 at the deers' horns, over the ribs of the hill side, ducking, 

 skipping, and running, so as to keep out of their sight, 

 and nearly along side of them, the rifle-men above 

 keeping parallel to him, and dressing according to his 

 motions. The deer, however, were steady to their tac- 

 tics ; for they were resolved not to come over the steep 

 part of the hill, where, by losing the wind, they might 

 come unawares on an enemy : thus they were rapidly 

 advancing towards the foot of the hill, where the slope 



G 2 



