326 DEER-STALKER DISTRESSED. 



thus gained considerably upon the spot of their crossing ; 

 so that when these latter began to appear, he took a long 

 shot at a hart, which was evidently struck by the ball. 



" Never heed him, Peter ; forward, forward, man." 



"Why, sure then, we mun stop and tak tent o' the 

 deer!" 



" No, no ; no such thing. Here, Maclaren, quick man, 

 take Percy; run forward and hold the deer at bay. 

 Come along, Peter, more deer will join them, and we 

 shall have them again as they come out of the mouth of 

 Glen Croinie." 



Away they dashed at the top of their speed, at least 

 Tortoise most assuredly did so ; but as he made " gallant 

 show and promise of his mettle, so, like a deceitful jade, 

 he sank in the trial." What, dead beat ! he whom Maga 

 in former times, and in her nattering mood, extolled for 

 feats on river, mountain, lake and moor ; he dead beat ? 

 Alas ! yes, most certainly, most undeniably so, and blowing 

 like a grampus. The way was short : but what will not 

 pace effect ? Some how or another, however, he held on 

 without being much the worse for it. 



Thus he contrived to reach the mouth of the glen in 

 piteous plight, and something in the attitude of the Aus- 

 trian spread eagle, just as the tail deer were sinking the 

 hill down to the culreach. A shot was fired, and it was 

 fortunately a clean one : a fine stag fell dead on the spot. 



" Now halt, my good fellows, and let us watch the deer." 



They saw them sweep down the hollow, and pass over 

 the hill to the west, and then lost them for some time in 

 the glen below : at length they crossed the river Mark and 

 re-appeared, ascending the opposite mountain just south of 



