THE AMBUSCADE. 177 



order, and act according to the movements- of the quarry. 

 Macpherson, who was to go down Glen . Croinie, was in- 

 structed to keep in the rear till the deer were on the eastern 

 face of the hill above the glen ; prudently did he hold 

 back, for they were endeavouring to break out on the west : 

 Tortoise and his men, however, turned them without diffi- 

 culty ; and, after some hard running and considerable 

 manoeuvring, they took precisely the desired direction. . 



But the drive, upon the whole, did not proceed with the 

 usual alacrity ; there was a sportsman (so called by cour- 

 tesy) upon whose pace the hill-men on the east waited, and 

 it was unfortunately a slow one ; he had several shots, 

 which were so injudiciously taken, that the success of the 

 general sport seemed to be in jeopardy: the deer, I believe, 

 were in none at all. 



" Why, now, Peter, what in Heaven's name can that ap- 

 parition be ? Take your glass, and see what like it is." 



" I see the man plain eneuch, for it is nae wraith ; but I 

 canna joost say Avhat like he is, for I never kent the like o' 

 him afore ; he's nae Scotchman, and he hasna the tread of 

 an English, for he aye gangs forrat on his toes wi' a wee 

 bit jerk. Haw, haw, haw, I never saw sic a dress on the 

 hills : do tak a gliff o' him through the prospect, yer 

 honour." 



" Ah, I see him, Peter, and I guess he is a Frenchman ; 

 but, with all his capering, he is as slow as a soldier mark- 

 ing time. Merciful he is, for not a beast has he touched as 

 far as I can see. Surely he must be firing with blank car- 

 tridge ; but the deer are going right in spite of him, so I 

 hope he enjoys himself; but, at any rate, if he spoils sport 

 in one way, I am sure he shows enough in another. I 

 wonder what he thinks he is doing ? " 



And now the stately herd began to crown the summits, 

 and were soon descried from the glen, hanging on the sky- 

 line in long array. Those in the van gaze steadily on all 

 side, onward move the others in succession, their horns 

 and bodies looming large against the sky. Heavens ! what 

 a noble sight ; how beautiful, how picturesque ! See how 

 they wind down the crags, with slow and measured steps ; 

 now hidden, and now reappearing from behind impending 



