220 FORAYS AMONG SALMON AND DEEK. 



fair-sized burn which took its rise at the head of the 

 glen, and traversing its whole length ultimately formed 

 the river Redburn. As we approached, the barking if 

 possible increased in ferocity, and Hector gave it as 

 his opinion that some dogs must have brought Alister's 

 deer to bay in the stream. We advanced, and such 

 turned out to be the fact. Two collies belonging to 

 the shepherd, who lived in another branch of the glen, 

 had found the wounded beast, and evidently driven him 

 to a stand-still in this position. We crept in to obtain 

 a view. There stood the stag in the middle of the 

 stream, the water reaching almost to his belly ; in his 

 rear a high rocky bank, and before him the collies, either 

 or both springing forward every instant at his throat, 

 but always repelled by his formidable horns. Now and 

 then the creature made a lunge forward upon them, 

 whereat his two foes speedily made good their retreat, 

 but as readily returned to the charge when his efforts 

 ceased. It was indeed a sorrowful sight ! so noble a 

 beast brought to such indignity. 



Naturalists speak, I know not with what amount of 

 truth, of a stag's shedding tears of anguish in such 

 positions, but I should little admire the spectator who 

 could himself look on such a scene unmoved, in truth 

 a pitiable example of true nobility bereft of its native 

 power and exposed to the unfeeling insults of the low ; 

 and it was with genuine sorrow that, at the suggestion 

 of Hector, I brought my rifle to shoulder, and ter- 

 minated his sufferings by a death more worthy than 

 that which otherwise awaited him from the fangs of the 

 half-ravenous dogs. We drew his floating carcase out 

 of the water, examined his horns, which were large but 

 not so handsome as those of my stag, having in all but 

 ten points; and calling off the dogs, once more 

 started for the shepherd's cottage. There we arrived 



