68 DAYS OF DEER-STALKING. 



Just at the edge of the precipice, and as it seemed on the 

 very brink of eternity, the dogs were baying him furiously; 

 one rush of the stag would have sent them down into the 

 chasm ; and in their fury they seemed wholly unconscious of 

 their danger. All drew in their breath, and shuddered at the 

 fatal chance that seemed momentarily about to take place. 



Fortunately the stag (sensible perhaps of the extreme 

 peril of his own situation) showed less fight than wounded 

 deer are apt to do ; still the suspense was paiuf ully exciting, 

 for the dogs were wholly at his mercy, and, as he menaced 

 with his antlers, they retreated backwards within an inch 

 of instant dissolution. 



" For Heaven's sake, Lightfoot, stay quietly behind this 

 knoll, whilst I creep in and finish him. A moment's delay 

 may be fatal ; I must make sure work, for if he is not killed 

 outright, deer, dogs, and all, will inevitably roll over the 

 horrid precipice together. Ah, my poor, gallant Derig ! " 



"May your hand be steady, and your aim true, for my 

 nerves are on the rack, and yet I must own that it is the 

 most magnificent sight I ever beheld ; bayed by two furious 

 animals, and with the death-shot in his fair body, the noble 

 the mighty hearted animal still bears up undaunted." 



Tortoise listened not, waited not for these remarks, but 

 crept round cannily, cannily, towards the fatal spot, looking 

 with extreme agitation at every motion of the dogs and 

 deer ; still he dared not hurry, though the moments were 

 so precious. 



Of the two dogs that were at bay, Derig was the most 

 fierce and persevering; the younger one had seen but little 

 sport, and waited at first upon the motions of the older, 

 nay, the better soldier; but his spirits being at length 

 thoroughly roused, he fought at last fearlessly and inde- 

 pendently. Whenever the deer turned his antlers aside to 

 gore Tarff, Derig seized the moment to fly at his throat, 

 but the motions of the hart were so rapid that the hound 

 was ever compelled to draw back, which retrograde motion 

 brought him frequently to the very verge of the precipice, 

 and it was probable, that as he always fronted the enemy, 

 he knew not, or, in the heat of the combat, had forgotten 

 the danger of his situation. 



