STKANGE ADVENTURE. 93 



Toiling and jaded, the sportsmen followed as best they 

 might, replete with wrath, and venting threats of vengeance 

 from time to time as their breath permitted ; but not one 

 inch could they gain on the fleet-footed stranger. They 

 came up with the Highlander, however and made him go 

 on with them as a prisoner. A word or two passed 

 between him and the hill-man, who, it seems, knew him. 



Percy's deep tongue again echoed through the pass, and 

 it was hoped that the bay would last long enough to allow 

 them to come up ; if it did not, they had no expectation of 

 outrunning a being whom some of the party took to be 

 supernatural. 



At length the stag was quite exhausted, and stood again 

 at bay in the midst of the rushing waters. Always fore- 

 most, superior to every obstacle, and flaming with ardour, 

 in plunged the reckless sportsman, intent, as it seemed, on 

 close combat. Already was he making his approaches 

 with uplifted club, when Tortoise, who had gained upon 

 him during the bay raised his rifle from a distance, the 

 lull whizzled close by the assailant, and down floated the 

 mighty hart, a lifeless thing. 



The stranger splashed after him, rushed at him, and was 

 the first to grip him and drag him towards the shore, till 

 the hill-men came up and took the affair into their own 

 hands. 



When protracted torments, however acute, terminate in 

 complete success, it is astonishing how suddenly all pre- 

 conceived anger ends with them. Considunt venti fugi- 

 untque nubes. Thus it was with Tortoise ; and when he saw 

 the open, happy countenance of the English stranger, who 

 accosted him as if he had performed the most service- 



