THE BLACK INFORMER. 98 



had heard it in a deer forest, and for a few 

 moments it caused me no apprehension. Suddenly, 

 however, the deep, hoarse notes, that at first had 

 reached my ear at regular intervals, were followed 

 by a succession of rapidly-repeated angry barks 

 in a higher key. These soon became louder and 

 louder, and turning up my eyes, I saw, to my 

 consternation, just over our heads, a large raven. 

 He had come over from Blackwater forest, in our 

 rear, having probably got sight of the gillie with 

 the dogs on the other side of the hill. Now he 

 evidently perceived us and redoubled his warnings, 

 swooping round and circling directly over us. 

 In a few seconds all was over. Away went the 

 hinds. Last of all uprose the stag himself, 

 slowly and leisurely ; at first looking round him 

 proudly, as if disdaining to take alarm from so 

 slight a cause, and at the same moment revealing 

 his grand proportions and his magnificent spread- 

 ing antlers. Then, having apparently made up 

 his mind in which direction to retreat, he trotted 

 up the side of the corrie in the track of the 

 fugitive hinds. Presently we saw the whole herd 

 slacken their pace and, one by one, disappear 

 over the hill ; until, at last, " the monarch of the 

 glen" himself loomed in dark profile 'on the sky- 

 line, and then vanished from our sight. 



