THE DAY. 221 



and Tarff is rinnin awa joost a-head o' him ; I never 

 kent the like. Now the hart stops now Tarff is at him 

 again : ah, take care, Tarff ! now the deer has beaten 

 him aff, and is rinnin after him again." 



" I see it all myself, Sandy, with the glass ; and I see, 

 too, that one dog, be he what he may, can never manage 

 that deer ; so let go Derig, for he has heard the bay, and 

 will soon be up with him." And so, indeed, he was : glen 

 and mountain now resounded with the raging of the deep- 

 mouthed hounds, till at length the vexed quarry broke 

 down the river Mark, and then, turning aside and skirting 

 the Brae, stood before a huge mass of rock that was 

 anchored on the mountain side : thus posted, he boldly 

 faced his antagonists. Thrice did the ferocious Derig 

 spring aloft in the air, and fly ravenously at his throat, 

 and thrice was he driven back with unmitigated fury. 

 Maddening with rage, the fine animal rushed forward, 

 raking and stabbing with his antlers, and gave chase, in 

 his turn, to his enemies. It was a novel sight to see the 

 noble beast act on the offensive. The war, when it ceased 

 on the side of the stag, was again renewed by the hounds, 

 who, although wounded and bleeding, ever returned 

 stoutly to the charge. In vain was the rifle at hand, for 

 the dogs were ever springing at the throat, in the way of 

 the ball. And now, see, the bay is again broken, and 

 away they go, right up the steeps of Ben-y-venie. 



" Here we can tarry no longer, for the Duke's men are 

 approaching; but it matters not, for Jamieson will in- 

 evitably bring that noble fellow down, though he will give 

 him some trouble, and perhaps occasion the death of my 

 good hounds. 



