86 THE CRAGS OP BEN-Y-VENIE. 



high up in the crags. Lord, Lord! what shall we do? 

 It is an unco' fashions place for a stranger : he canna win 

 forrat by himsel at ony gait." 



" We should have considered that before, Peter ; but 

 creep back, and send Davy after him, with a caution how 

 to bring him into the ground properly. The dogs will be 

 back in time ; and I trust he may yet join us before the 

 deer cross. Speed, Davy, speed ! " 



Away went Davy over moss and crag, and up the steep, 

 waving his bonnet to the vexed sportsman ; but there was 

 no charm in Davy's signs sufficiently powerful to induce 

 Lightfoot to alter that method of descent which he himself 

 judged most conducive to the preservation of his exist- 

 ence. In vain did the herald keep beckoning and sawing 

 the air with his bonnet, still advancing to the rescue. Our 

 hero found his head swimming, and very wisely gave up 

 the upright position, and made his way on his hands and 

 knees, as best befitted his unhappy condition. At length 

 the messenger reached and assisted him ; and, the crags 

 once passed, both came forward rapidly. 



Fraser, who had been peeping from time to time 

 through a bunch of heather, now pressed Tortoise's arm, 

 aud whispered, " Be ready they are coming ! " Both 

 were lying flat on the heather, with the rifles on the 

 ground, on one of which Tortoise had his hand ; but, as 

 yet, he did not raise it. They lay still as death till some 

 hinds passed within an easy shot ; next came a four-year- 

 old hart, which was suffered to pass also : the better harts 

 were following in the same direction, and the points of 

 their horns were just coming in sight, when lo ! Lightfoot, 

 who had that moment come into the ground, fired at the 



