A SHARP HALT. 253 



Thus he contrived to reach the mouth of the glen in 

 piteous plight, and something in the attitude of the Aus- 

 trian spread eagle, just as the tail deer were sinking the 

 hill down to the culreach. A shot was fired, and it was 

 fortunately a clean one : a fine stag fell dead on the spot. 



" Now, halt my good fellows, and let us watch the deer." 



They saw them pass over the hill to the west, and lost 

 them for some time in the glen below. At length they 

 crossed the river Mark and re-appeared, ascending the 

 opposite mountain just south of Cairn-cherie ; slowly did 

 they climb the brae, and, being completely tired, lay down 

 on the moss some way up the hill. 



" Very well, gentlemen, we will talk to you by and bye." 



" Now, Fraser, whilst Sandy is gralloching this deer, do 

 you go and seek the bay of the other." 



Nor was this trouble a toilsome one, for Percy held at 

 him in the moss under the grey stones of Cairn-Chlamain ; 

 and a ball was soon sent through his head. 



" Now, then, take up the rifles, lose no time, and follow 

 me, Peter." 



" Why, what can we do ? thae beasties are in sight o' 

 a' the glen, and we canna pass the Mark burn at ouy gait." 



" It will be a long round, and a toilsome one : but you did 

 not get your bonny wife, you know, Peter, by means of a 

 faint heart. Here, Maclaren, do you remain on this brae 

 (they had advanced some way), and when with your glass 

 you see us fairly above the deer, wait for our signal ; 

 we will draw breath a space before we give it. But when 

 you do see it, put the deer over to us in your very best 

 style. Now, Fraser, hard work as it is, this is our only 

 chance ; but you are never tired, blown or daunted ; it is 

 no use to go back towards the east, the ground is all dis- 

 turbed there ; so we must take a long round by Coir-na- 

 minghie, and cross the low ground out of sight, where we 

 can go up Cairn-cherie, and get above them, and then let 

 them look to themselves. 



All this was done at their best pace : after a long, I will 

 not say a toilsome, circuit the excitement they felt ren- 

 dering them insensible to fatigue, a close approximation 

 to the fatal spot was gained. They had the deer below 



