48 FORAYS AMONG SALMON AND DEER. 



cascades far into the depths of the dell. In the centre 

 of the last cascade, with the waters leaping on either 

 side of it, stands a jet-black stone, in its form some- 

 what resembling a rude cross, to which the legends of 

 the glen have attached the sobriquet of " Uaigh-na- 

 sithchean," or, "the tomb of the fairies." And, 

 certainly, though our common notions of those crea- 

 tures would assign to them the gift of immortality; 

 yet, if they must, like frail humanity, also pay their 

 debt to nature, this is a most suitable spot wherein to 

 lay their elfin bones, a rock, blackened by the spray 

 of ages, fringed round by the fox-glove and the fern, 

 while above wave the long drooping branches of a 

 weeping birch, bending over the rude cross and fretting 

 with the stream that murmurs by. 



Such is but a meagre description of the lovely spot 

 to which we had directed our steps in search of more 

 deer. Our, search, however, proved futile. Stationing 

 ourselves at the head of the waterfall, just where the 

 burn issues from Loch-an-reodhadh, we carefully 

 examined every glade where a deer was likely to 

 be, but nothing was visible. The copses themselves, 

 though thoroughly adapted for roe, seemed too dense 

 for the red-deer ; and Donald assured us that, though 

 he had seen many a fine buck in the open glades, he 

 had never found one within the coverts. We thought 

 it best, therefore, to be content with the achievements 

 we had already performed ; and accordingly, having 

 sauntered through the prettiest part of the glen, and 

 moistened our lips with a draught of pure "mountain 

 dew," we proceeded homewards, following, as far as it 

 lay in our road, the course of the burn ; for Scotch 

 streams are dainty creatures, generally picking out the 

 prettiest bits of scenery, and Alt-na-airgst (the silver 

 burn) is no exception to the rule. At first our course 



