FORESTER AND POACHERS. 129 



thoughts he determined to hear further, and satisfy his 

 increasing curiosity. He now learnt that the party were 

 discussing the possibility of being discovered ; one out 

 of the number suggesting that the fire's light might 

 attract the attention of some of the keepers, should any 

 be abroad. " And what if Donald Oag should, himself, 

 walk in ? " said one, with a loud laugh. " What ! " 

 replied the deep voice of another. "What! why, 

 before ever that blaze lit up his cowardly een, I would 

 just give him this ounce of lead in his black heart ; " 

 and suiting the action of the word, the stout High- 

 lander sprang to his feet, put his piece to his shoulder, 

 and glanced fiercely down the barrel, exactly in the 

 direction of the spot where the keeper was standing 

 concealed. Though this sentiment was not greeted 

 with applause by his companions, who, bad as they 

 might be, were yet not prepared for such an extreme, 

 the determined tone in which it was uttered, and the 

 sudden action of the speaker, quite overcame the 

 keeper. Assured from previous knowledge of the man, 

 that he was one who would execute his threat as readily 

 as he had given utterance to it, Donald remained, as it 

 were, spell-bound, though his limbs tottered beneath 

 him, and the heart in his bosom palpitated almost 

 audibly. For some moments he stood thus rooted to 

 the spot ; and then, the conversation taking another 

 turn, he slowly and silently withdrew from his dangerous 

 position ; and once fairly out of sight and hearing, took 

 to his heels and never even paused until his own door, 

 doubly bolted and barred, intervened between himself 

 and the forest. 



That night the slumbers of Donald Oag were 

 troubled and feverish. Again he trembled beneath the 

 fierce eye of the poacher glaring upon him ; again his 

 ears rang with those angry tones and the threat they 



