SANDY^S STORY 127 



when not wanted. He did not now venture to 

 hold the hounds forward and across the Hne I came, 

 or else they would have got on the scent, as I 

 returned nearly the same way, which was ascertained 

 by a hunter on his return home, a man having seen 

 me. 



Having escaped from this Uvely pack of hounds, 

 I did not venture to remain in this part, but at 

 once took up my abode near Foulden, where I was 

 again found by Lord Elcho and his pack, though I 

 fancied I had selected an out-of-the-way spot near 

 the river Whitadder, with which part 1 was well 

 acquainted, as his lordship has reason to know and 

 to regret. After they had hunted me some time, 

 finding myself distressed, I was induced to return to 

 my old haunts, creeping along a narrow track by 

 the side of the steep and rocky bank which overhung 

 the river, the height of which, where I passed, was 

 nearly a hundred feet. Several of these high- 

 couraged hounds in attempting to follow me lost 

 their footing, fell to the bottom, and were killed. 

 It was only strange that a single hound escaped ; 

 and though I certainly did not intend to assist in 

 preventing their destruction, yet such happened to 

 be the case ; for having waited, when in my narrow 

 track, for some time, and thinking myself safe, I 



