DALNACARDOCH DEER. 223 



" And clecvan chicls they were sure eneuch, for they 

 got intill them without fashing themselves much aboot the 

 matter ; but the gentlemen, some gait or anither, had not 

 studied nature, so that when they brought hame the 

 beasties, the gude mon at the inn cud no agree wi' them 

 in opinion, though he is a very ceevil mon too ; for Sandy 

 said that the five deer were five goats, whilst the gentle- 

 men said that the five goats were five deer ; but sure 

 eneuch, they had all beards, were wee beasties, and smelt 

 like goats all over." 



" Well, Peter, and how did all this end?" 



" Why at last, then, they (that's the deer-stalkers) 

 began to think that Sandy was richt, and that the deer 

 were goats ; so they behaved very handsome, and gave 

 the farmer a hantlc o' siller for their day's sport, being 

 sorry for the mistake they had made : and it's mare the 

 pity they didna prove to be deer ; but it's no that easy to 

 turn the like of an old goat into a fine hart." 



" Well, Peter, I do not think that the sport was so bad 

 after all ; for I believe that the chamois, in chase of which 

 the Swiss risk their lives, and are out for days together on 

 mountains of eternal ice and snow, is little better than a 

 great goat after all." 



" I didna hear of sic a beast mysel ; but I ken, by yer 

 honour's account, he is no worth the speering at." 



The moment had now arrived for starting the deer; 

 and the signal was given, that every one might go on in 

 good order, and act according to the movements of the 

 quarry. Macpherson, who was to go down Glen Croinie, 

 was instructed to keep in the rear till the deer were on 

 the eastern face of the hill above the glen; prudently 



