'I DASHED MY PLAID OVER HIS HEAD" 



CHAPTER XXVI 



The Muckle Hart of Benmore 



Sunday. — This evening, Malcolm, the shepherd of the shealing 

 at the foot of Benmore, returning from church, reported his 

 having crossed on the hill a track of a hart of extraordinary size ; 

 and he guessed it must be " the muckle stag of Benmore." This 

 was an animal seldom seen, but which had long been the talk 

 and marvel of the shepherds for its wonderful size and cunning. 

 They love the marvellous, and in their report " the muckle 

 stag " bore a charmed life ; he was unapproachable and in- 

 vulnerable. I had heard of him too, and, having got the 

 necessary information, resolved to try to break the charm 

 though it should cost me a day or two. 



