PETER ERASER'S HUMANITY. 331 



fired two shots in rapid succession. One hart fell dead on 

 the spot, and another went away wounded. 



" Murder, murder ! O Lord, murder ! Haud yer hond ; 

 hand yer hond ; we can no tak' tent o'au thae deer." 



And Peter Fraser held the third rifle with a firm grip, 

 and refused to give it up. But a sharp tug or two, and a 

 sudden and unexpected twist from Tortoise, soon released 

 it from his grasp.* 



" Aweel, aweel ; haud to yon muckle deer then, awa to 

 the wast. There, there (pointing}" 



Down he dropped instantly to the rifle ; and away went 

 Tortoise after the wounded stag. A dog was properly 

 slipped, who ran a beautiful chase all down the steeps of 

 Ben-y-venie towards the river Mark. There the helpless 

 animal stood at bay, and received his deathshot. He fell 

 in a secluded spot, below some rocks and birch trees, 

 where he was gralloched and washed out ; his head was 

 turned back on his shoulder, according to custom, and 

 peats were put upon it to keep his eyes from the great 

 bird; nor did they neglect to tie the black flag on his 

 horns, which, waving in the night-air, might scare away 

 the raven, and baulk him of his prey. 



The herd passed forward, and Tortoise held his glass to 

 them, but discontinued the pursuit, although they were 

 still before him in his cast. 



The events of this day may be summed up in the words 



* The immediate attendant on the deer-stalker holds the spare 

 rifles, and gives them one after the other to the sportsman, as he fires 

 them in succession. The gunstocks got much battered in Tortoise's 

 service, as he generally flung down each rifle as soon as he had dis- 

 charged it rock or moss, it took its chance. 



