THE WHITE HIND. 265 



bore to distress her feelings by revealing his name to one 

 who had so much reason to dread and detest him. He 

 ate of her meal, and restored his benumbed limbs before her 

 peat fire; and it may be that his heart smote him as 

 he felt his vigour returning, and cast his eyes upon his 

 wretched preserver. He parted from her next morning 

 with expressions of gratitude ; and upon his return home, 

 sent her five bolls of meal from his rich corn farm in the 

 parish of Loth, and continued the same gratuity to her 

 annually during her life. 



A white hind roamed over the district of Loch Etivc 

 in the year 1622, and soon after disappeared. An animal 

 varying so much from its common species gave rise to 

 superstitious stories ; and a tradition was handed down 

 that, should a white hind again appear, death by violence 

 would ensue. A few years ago (I have not received the 

 precise date) another white hind did make her appear- 

 ance, and created a great sensation on account of the 

 above tradition. In the depth of the winter of that year, 

 a few determined poachers went forth, when the wild 

 wilderness of mountains was covered with snow, and the 

 burns ran sluggishly through their icy barriers. In such 

 a dead season the keepers might well be supposed to be 

 absent from the hills. The lawless band, having arrived 

 at their station, made their dispositions for driving and 

 killing the deer. They toiled up the rugged steeps, and, 

 having taken possession of the favourite passes, sent forth 

 their practised scouts to put the herd to them : these men 

 communicated with the others, as is usual, by means of 

 signals. The day wore away without any successful re- 

 sult : at length, as it drew to a close, and the fading light 



