THE PARTY ASSEMBLED. 181 



one else would fire at a deer at bay whilst his Grace was in 

 the glen. We shall soon know this, for a few minutes will 

 bring us within sight." 



And now, as they bounded down the brae, the whole line 

 of carriages, gillies, and sportsmen, broke full upon their 

 view. That glen, heretofore so still and silent, awoke at 

 once into life and animation. A large party had collected 

 round Marble Lodge, and made a most picturesque appear- 

 ance. Here a successful sportsman came, triumphantly 

 galloping upon a mountain pony ; and, far in his rear, 

 riding at a dejected pace, loitered some unhappy wight, 

 whose balls had been somewhat too busy with the heather. 

 The wild gillies, soiled and heated with toil, were running 

 to and fro in their blue bonnets and plaided kilts, some 

 leading the good deer-hounds in the leash, with panting 

 sides and flagging sterns ; others, with fresh dogs, trotting 

 lightly along, and looking up the mountain to the right and 

 left, with keen gaze and half elevated ears. Nobles and 

 kerns were mixed, and talking together with that good 

 fellowship and equality, which a common interest in an 

 animated pursuit so generally and so happily occasions. Or, 

 if there was any ascendancy (always setting aside the Lord 

 of the Forest), it was vested in John Crerer ; so true it is, 

 that " it is place that lessens and sets off." He was the 

 Belarius, to whom the noble sportsmen looked up with 

 deference and respect. 



Three stout ponies, with redundant manes and shaggy 

 coats came slowly winding down the glen, each with a 

 magnificent deer corded on his back. Tortoise had gone 

 rapidly forward, with a fresh dog and a hill-man, in quest 

 of Douglas and the deer : faintly he has heard the bay ; 

 now it peals louder and louder, as he rounds the wooded 

 promontory. 



"Now, speed thee, speed thee, Sandy; quick to the 

 Duke, and tell him we have a noble hart at bay ; this 

 torrent and these cliffs he himself cannot gain, but say I 

 will break the bay, and get him down to the Tilt, where he 

 shall surely die the death. Lose not a moment, for time 

 presses. Nay, never go round by the bridge, man the 

 river, though swollen, is still fordable here, and will not 



