166 WILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS. [CHAP. xx. 



four guns. Having placed the other three in passes along the edge 

 of the swamps, through which the roe and foxes would have to 

 make their way on going from one wood to the other, I went 

 into the thickets with the keepers and hounds. We had hardly 

 entered when up got a fine buck, and the beagles were immediately 

 laid on, and away they went ; I ran to a small height from which 

 I had a good view of the country away went the buck at a rattling 

 pace, and the gallant little pack hard on his track, making the 

 woods echo with their enlivening cry. The buck first took a 

 line into the roughest part of the ground, expecting no doubt to 

 throw off the dogs at once, as he probably had often done with 

 sheep-dogs or curs that had chased him ; but finding that his 

 persevering little enemies were not to be so outwitted, after 

 standing still for a short time to deliberate, he turned back and 

 went straight for the swamp where the guns were, but seeing 

 the hat of one of the gentlemen posted there, and not liking to 

 cross the water directly in his face, he turned along the edge of 

 it, half inclined to go back. But just at this instant the little 

 pack came full cry out of the wood their deep notes sounding 

 in full chorus as they came upon the open ground ; they were 

 rather at a loss for a moment or two, and I ran up to put them 

 on the scent. The buck, who had been watching us as he went 

 quietly along, was decided as to his course by seeing this, and 

 the moment the dogs' cry gave notice that they had found the 

 scent again, he dashed into the water at a place where there was 

 no pass it was not above a hundred yards in width, and ex- 

 cepting two or three yards in the middle where he had to 

 swim, not deeper than a few inches. The beagles came full 

 cry on his track, and just viewed him as he was cantering up a 

 steep ascent on the other side of the water ; they at once dashed 

 in, and, encouraged by a view holloa, swam through the water 

 and took up the scent immediately away they went, till 

 we lost all sound of them ; presently we heard their notes 

 borne down on the wind from a great distance the sound 

 came nearer and nearer, and soon the buck appeared on the 

 top of the brae, near the water's edge, directly above two of the 

 guns, who had got together tired of waiting, and were discussing 

 the price of railway-sleepers, &c. The deer stood watching 

 them for some minutes, till the hounds came within fifty yards 



