136 FORAYS AMONG SALMON AND DEER. 



this was a locality little frequented by deer, still stray 

 ones, often the finest, were occasionally compelled 

 thither, as to a harbour of refuge from the angry 

 elements. 



To these ravines, therefore, and to this corrie we 

 determined to confine ourselves for the brief remaining 

 portion of the day. But the river had first to be 

 crossed, and on reaching its bank we found it so 

 swollen from the rain, that, hesitating to cross, we 

 proceeded to follow its course, hoping that at some one 

 of its many turns we might find a ford where the 

 passage would be less dangerous. It was not, how- 

 ever till we had Avalked more than a mile, that a place 

 was found which the fox-hunter volunteered to ford, 

 that we might learn the depth of the water. Plunging 

 in, he succeeded, by his intimate knowledge of the bed, 

 in gaming the further bank in safety ; but with such 

 difficulty, that we at once declined to follow. We 

 therefore sent him alone across a low stretch of moor- 

 land to inspect the corrie, and then report to us if any 

 game were to be seen; while we ourselves, sitting down 

 by a solitary rock, took out our "Dollonds," and 

 proceeded to scrutinise the opposite ravines. 



In this way some time was spent, but nothing dis- 

 covered. And now we began to look anxiously for 

 Gillespie's return. We had watched him gain an 

 elevated " knowe," commanding a view into the depths 

 of the corrie ; but he had now left it, and disappeared 

 altogether. We sat for some time waiting, but still he 

 did not appear ; and now the shades of evening were 

 coming on apace, and our view each moment more 

 contracted. At length, tired out, and certain that even 

 had he found any game, it was now too late to attempt 

 a stalk, we plowly turned our steps homewards, still 

 anxious lest the man should be overtaken by the dark, 



