134 HOUND AND HORN 



But a note on the horn brought several dark forms 

 out of a side cleuch directly below us, and on going 

 down we found the pack at the edge of the stream, 

 most of them lying in it drinking and panting ; and 

 a little way off, after some search, a mangled object 

 stretched and flattened and so plastered with black 

 peat as to be more like a fox that had been dead 

 for a week than the limber animal that had just 

 stood up so well in front of hounds. 



'^ They never do break up a fox when they kill him 

 in a peat-hole like that," explained Sandy. 



Davie was urged by his elder brother to thrust 

 a finger down the creature's throat, which he did 

 very gingerly, and reported not only that it was 

 blood-hot, but declared he felt an expiring twitch 

 and quiver, with an attempt to close the long jaws, 

 which made him retract his finger with more decision 

 than he had inserted it. 



After washing in the stream and removing brush, 

 mask, and all the pads, amid the whoops and yells of 

 their followers, the body was thrown to the hounds, 

 who soon tore him and ate him, being assisted in 

 the operation by such of the terriers as had come 

 up. These determined little creatures held on to 

 and fought for every scrap of skin, and we had a 

 good laugh to see Geordie Davidson's Piper pounce 

 upon a small portion and bear it off while the 

 brothers Oliver's terriers were locked in mortal 

 combat over the same prize. 



Estimating distance and time and comparing notes 

 occupied us till we followed down stream to the shep- 

 herd's house. 



'' Where got ye that saddle, Dave ? " inquired Sandy. 



