A SHARP WALK. 327 



Cairn-cherie : slowly did they climb the brae ; and being 

 completely tired, lay down on the moss some way up the 

 hill. 



" Very well, gentlemen, we will talk to you by and 

 bye." 



" Now, Fraser, whilst Sandy is gralloching this deer, do 

 you go and seek the bay of the other." 



Nor was this trouble a toilsome one, for Percy held at 

 him in the moss under the grey stones of Cairn-chlamain ; 

 and a ball was soon sent through his head. 



" Now, then, take up the rifles, lose no time, and follow 

 me, Peter." 



" Why, what can we do ? thae beastis are insight o'aw 

 the glen, and we can no pass the Mark burn at ony gait." 



" It will be a long round, and a toilsome one ; but you 

 did not get your bonny wife, you know, Peter, by means 

 of a faint heart. Here, Maclaren, do you remain on this 

 brae (they had advanced some way), and when with your 

 glass you see us fairly above the deer, wait for our signal ; 

 we will draw breath a space before we give it. But when 

 you do see it, put the deer over to us in your very best 

 style. Now, Fraser, hard work as it is, this is our only 

 chance ; but you are never tired, blown or daunted ; it is 

 no use to go back towards the east, the ground is all 

 disturbed there ; so we must take a long round by Coir-na- 

 minghie, and cross the low ground out of sight, where we 

 can go up Cairn-cherie, and get above them, and then let 

 them look to themselves." 



All this was done at their best pace : after a long, I 

 will not say a toilsome circuit, the excitement they felt 

 rendering them insensible to fatigue, a close approxima- 



Y 4 



