296 EAGLE HOVERING ROUND BEN-Y-VENIE. 



deer endeavoured to wedge themselves into the mass out 

 of reach of his horrid fangs. 



There was now no doubt but that the drive would be 

 spoiled. Many were the denunciations against the ap- 

 palled leashman ; his death-warrant was made out, for he 

 was to have no more whiskey, which was precisely the 

 same thing to him. 



But, lo ! when all were sinking with apprehension, 

 affairs took an almost miraculous turn : after the hound 

 had forced the herd in the manner described, missing the 

 taint of the blood, he suddenly turned back from them, 

 and came feathering along, making beautiful casts to the 

 right and left : returning now to the burn which he had 

 before passed, he picked up the lost scent of the blood, 

 and ran rapidly down its mazes. Soon the wounded deer 

 sprang up, and went heavily before him down the stream ; 

 out at once leaped the cunning dog upon the banks, 

 headed him by about a hundred yards, and then came 

 back in his front, and held him resolutely to bay. It was 

 a way he had of shortening the business. 



This happy termination was an inexpressible relief to 

 all. Tortoise went forward alone, creeping up cautiously 

 by a side-wind, and finished him by a shot through his 

 head. When the men returned to the hind, they saw the 

 eagle sweep down from the clouds, and wheeling over 

 Ben-y-venie, descend in all his expanse of wing, and perch 

 himself upon the blasted branch of a birch stump that 

 overhung a rock in the declivity. There the huge bird 

 sat the whole time the deer was being cleaned, gloating 

 over the operations, and eager for the bloody repast. As 

 soon as the animal should be left on the lonely moor, he 



