THE BA Y. 175 



will soon be up with him." And so, indeed, he was : glen 

 and mountain now resounded with the raging of the deep- 

 mouthed hounds, till at length the vexed quarry broke 

 down the river Mark, and then, turning aside and skirting 

 the Brae, stood before a huge mass of rock that was 

 anchored on the mountain side ; thus posted, he boldly 

 faced his antagonists. Thrice did the ferocious Derig 

 spring aloft in the air, and fly ravenously at his throat, and 

 thrice was he driven back with unmitigated fury. Madden- 

 ing with rage, the fine animal rushed forward, raking and 

 stabbing with his antlers, and gave chase, in his turn, to 

 his enemies. It was a novel sight to see the noble beast 

 act on the offensive. The war, when it ceased on the side 

 of the stag, was again renewed by the hounds, who, 

 although wounded and bleeding, ever returned stoutly to 

 the charge. In vain was the rifle at hand, for the dogs 

 were ever springing at the throat, in the way of the ball. 

 And now, see, the bay is again broken, and away they go, 

 right up the steeps of Ben-y-venie. 



" Here we can tarry no longer, for the Duke's men are 

 approaching ; but it matters not, for Jamieson will inevit- 

 ably bring that noble fellow down, though he will give 

 him some trouble, and perhaps occasion the death of my 

 good hounds." 



" Well, Peter Fraser, here you are at last : when are we 

 to start the deer ? " 



" At one o'clock exactly ; and a' the men are round to- 

 wards the east, under Charlie Crerer's command : then 

 there's George Ritchie the fiddler at Cairn-y-chlamain ; and 

 Macpherson will gang doun Glen Croinie. The Duke trusts 

 to you and yer men to pit ower the deer from the wast." 



" Well, Peter, this is all as it should be, and the left wing 

 cannot be under better command than that of Charlie 

 Crerer ; for, besides being a very clever fellow, he is as 

 active as the beasts themselves, and always zealous to do 

 his duty : a great regard I have for him, for he was my 

 first instructor, and many a pleasant day we have had to- 

 gether in bye-gone times. As for the main body of the 

 deer breaking on our side, we will so deal with them, that 

 they shall not have that crime to answer for; if a few harts 



