ARRIVAL OP A REINFORCEMENT. 231 



animal could have got into the dark chasm in which he stood. 

 But there he was the torrent at his feet, and the long bony 

 arm of a blasted birch stretched over him. Douglas stood 

 baying at the point of a rock above, venting his vain 

 wrath, and making stoops as if he would plunge down 

 from that " bad eminence," but sensible of his danger, he 

 as often drew back ; various were the attempts he made 

 to come in at some other place, but still he was obliged to 

 return to his first position. Tortoise now came up with 

 Croinie ; she was a most sagacious animal, and it was 

 her custom to do the thing as coolly as possible, always 

 running before the deer till she came to a convenient 

 part of the river, when she turned in and headed him. 

 This method she took in the present instance, and was 

 soon swimming before his antlers. 



But the stout animal would probably have remained 

 immovable in his position till the hound perished with 

 cold and fatigue, had he seen no other enemies. Indeed 

 he seemed to hold both dogs in thorough contempt ; but 

 when Tortoise stood before him, for a moment he raised 

 up his stately crest, and waved his broad antlers to the 

 right and left, gazing restlessly around him, then plunged 

 at once down the torrent, trampled upon the hound, and 

 bounded out far below, gaming the open birch copse that 

 skirted the banks of the Tilt. The hounds kept on their 

 course, following him through all his windings: arrived 

 at length at the steep banks of the river, with one brave 

 bound he gains the centre of the stream ; and there he 

 stands majestic, and firm, and in ready act to do battle. 

 The hounds dash after him as best they may ; fain would 

 they attack him, but in vain they stretch their powerless 



Q 4 



