DOGS SLIPPED AT A WOUNDED DEER. 67 



"Hush, hush ! keep down. Why the deer's safe enough, 

 Harry." 



" By Jove, I think he is, for I see him going through the 

 moss as comfortable as possible." 



"We must louse a doug, sir, or he will gang forrat to the 

 hill." 



" Let go both of them ; it will be a fine chance for the 

 young dog; but get on a little first, and put him on the 

 scent; the deer is so low in the bog that he cannot see him." 



Fraser now went on with the hounds in the leash, sink- 

 ing, and recovering himself, and springing from the moss- 

 hags, till the dogs caught sight of the hart, and they were 

 slipped ; but the fine fellow was soon out of the bog, and 

 went over the top of the Mealowr. All went forwai'd their 

 best pace, plunging in and out of the black mire, till they 

 came to the foot of the hill, and then with slackened pace 

 went panting up its steep acclivity. 



"Now, Sandy, run forward to the right, if you have a 

 run in you, and get a view with the glass all down the 

 burn of auld Heclan, and then come forwards towards Glen 

 Deery if you do not see the bay there. Come along, Harry, 

 the deer is shot through the body I tell you." 



" Sangue di Diana ! what makes him run so, then ? " 



" Hark ! I thought I heard the bay under the hill. No ; 

 'twas the eagle ; it may be he is watching for his prey. 

 Hark again : do you hear them, Peter ? " 



" I didua hear naethiug but the plevar ; sure he canna 

 win farther forrat than auld Heclan ; he was sair donnered 

 at first, but he skelped it brawly afterwards : we shall see 

 them at the downcome." 



True enough they did ; for when they passed over the 

 hill to the south, the voice of the hounds broke full upon 

 them, and they saw the magnificent creature standing on a 

 narrow projecting ledge of rock within the cleft, and in the 

 mid course of a mountain cataract ; the upper fall plunged 

 down behind him, and the water, coursing through his 

 legs, dashed the spray and mist around him, and then at 

 one leap went plumb down to the abyss below; the rocks 

 closed in upon his flanks, and there he stood, bidding 

 defiance in his own mountain hold. 



