304 THE GREEN KNOWS. 



One hart there was amongst the rest that might be 

 known from a million. His horns were very white, and 

 his body had a tendency to mouse colour; sleek and 

 dainty he was all over. It was the third hart which had 

 escaped the rifles on Cairn Cherie. 



Stop, caitiff, traitor ! but you may fall yet 



" Nescis, heu perdite, nescis 



Quern fugias ; ttostes incurris dum fugis hostem." 



It was now the appointed time when the parties were 

 expected in the wood. It was ascertained by their glasses 

 that the Duke's men were properly stationed on Crag 

 Urrard ; the drivers therefore continued to get forward 

 the herd, which had collected and rested awhile : now they 

 crowned the scalp of Meal-Remahr, and went streaming 

 down into the vast basin of Corri-crombie. Many there 

 were who remained on the hill as sentinels ; these, how- 

 ever, joined the rest as Tortoise came on. Maclaren, who 

 was on the east, had been strengthened by a force ju- 

 diciously placed by John Crerar ; and the craft now 

 devolved upon these men. Tortoise and his friend, not 

 daring to come forward, lay down on the heather stumps, 

 conversing in scarcely audible whispers. 



" They will pass over Na-Shean-Tulichean, or the green 

 knows which you see before you : how easily could we 

 have them by getting a little forward ! But it must not 

 be ; here we will abide : only this ; when the great herd 

 have fairly passed over the knows, should some fatigued 

 beast bring up the rear, ' to stop too fearful, and too fat to 

 go,' we shall do no mischief if we get on and salute him 

 with our rifles." 



