CHAP, xxv!.] THE MUCKLE HART OF BENMOKE. 213 



charged, but fortunately tumbled ere he quite reached me. lie 

 drew back again like a ram about to but, and then stood still 

 with his head lowered, and his eyes bloody and swelled, glaring 

 upon me. lie* mane and all his coat were dripping with water 

 and blood ; and as he now and then tossed his head with an angry 

 snort, he looked like some savage beast of prey. We stood 

 mutually at bay for some time, till recovering myself, I jumped 

 out of the burn so suddenly, that he had not time to run at me, 

 and from the bank above, I dashed my plaid over his head and 

 eyes, and threw myself upon him. I cannot account for my 

 folly, and it had nearly cost me dear. The poor beast struggled 

 desperately, and his remaining strength foiled me in every 

 attempt to stab him in front ; and he at length made off, tumbling 

 me down, but carrying with him a stab in the leg which lamed 

 him. I ran and picked up my rifle, and then kept him in view 

 as he rushed down the burn on three legs towards the loch. He 

 took the water and stood at bay up to his chest in it. As soon 

 as he halted, I commenced loading my rifle, when to my dismay 

 I found that all the balls I had remaining were for my double- 

 barrel, and were a size too large for my rifle. I sat down and 

 commenced scraping one to the right size, an operation that 

 seemed interminable. At last I succeeded ; and, having loaded, 

 the poor stag remaining perfectly still, I went up within twenty 

 yams of him, and shot him through the head. lie turned over 

 and floated, perfectly dead. I waded in and towed him ashore, 

 and then had leisure to look at my wounds and bruises, which 

 were not serious, except my shin-bone, which was scraped from 

 ankle to knee by his horn. I soon had cleaned my quarry and 

 stowed him away as safely as I could, and then turned down the 

 glen at a gay pace. I found Donald with Bran reposing at 

 Malcolm's shealing ; and for all reproaches on his misconduct, 

 I was satisfied with sending him to bring home the " nuiekle 

 hart of Benmore," a duty which he performed before nig'iNfall. 



