THE WOLF. 179 



" long dogs " or deer-hounds in the country. One 

 •winter's day, about the year before mentioned, he 

 received a message from the Laird of Macintosh 

 that a large "black beast," supposed to be a Wolf, 

 had appeared in the glens, and the day before killed 

 two children, who with their mother were crossing 

 the hills from Calder, in consequence of which a 

 " Tainchel " or " gathering " to drive the country was 

 called to meet at a tryst above Fi-Giuthas, where 

 MacQueen was invited to attend with his dogs. He 

 informed himself of the place where the children had 

 been killed, the last tracks of the Wolf, and the con- 

 jectures of his haunt, and promised his assistance. 



In the morning the " Tainchel " had long assem- 

 bled, and Macintosh waited with impatience, but 

 MacQueen did not arrive. His dogs and himself were, 

 however, auxiliaries too important to be left behind, 

 and they continued to wait until the best of a 

 hunter's morning was gone, when at last he appeared, 

 and Macintosh received him with an irritable 

 expression of disappointment. 



" Ciod e a chabhag f" (" What was the hurry ?") 

 said he of Pall-a-chrocain. 



Macintosh gave an indignant retort, and all pre- 

 sent made some impatient reply. 



MacQueen lifted his plaid and drew the black, 

 bloody head of the Wolf from under his arm ! 



" Sin e dhuibh /" (" There it is for you !") said he, 

 and tossed it on the grass in the midst of the surprised 

 circle. 



Macintosh expressed great joy and admiration, 



