cuap, xxv1.] THE MUCKLE HART OF BENMORE. 213 
charged, but fortunately tumbled ere he quite reached me. He 
drew back again like a ram about to but, and then stood still 
with his head lowered, and his eyes bloody and swelled, glaring 
upon me. He mane and all his coat were dripping with water 
and blood ; and as he now and then tossed his head with an angry 
snort, he looked like some savage beast of prey. We stood 
mutually at bay for some time, till recovering myself, I jumped 
out of the burn so suddenly, that he had not time to run at me, 
and from the bank above, I dashed my plaid over his head and 
eyes, and threw myself upon him. I cannot account for my 
folly, and it had nearly cost me dear. The poor beast struggled 
desperately, and his remaining strength foiled me in every 
attempt to stab him in front; and he at length made off, tumbling 
me down, but carrying with him a stab in the leg which lamed 
him. Iran and picked up my rifle, and then kept him in view 
as he rushed down the burn on three legs towards the loch. He 
took the water and stood at bay up to his chest in it. As soon 
as he halted, I commenced loading my rifle, when to my dismay 
I found that all the balls I had remaining were for my double- 
barrel, and were a size too large for my rifle. Isat down and 
commenced scraping one to fhe right size, an operation that 
seemed interminable. At last I succeeded ; and, having loaded, 
the poor stag remaining perfectly still, I went up within twenty 
yarus of him, and shot him through the head. He turned over 
and floated, perfectly dead. I waded in and towed him ashore, 
and then had leisure to look at my wounds and bruises, which 
were not serious, except my shin-bone, which was scraped from 
ankle to knee by his horn. I soon had cleaned my quarry and 
stowed him away as safely as E could, and then turned down the 
glen at a gay pace. I found Donald with Bran reposing at 
Malcolm’s shealing ; and for all-reproaches on his misconduct, 
I was satisfied with sending him to bring: home the “muckle 
hart of Benmore,” a duty which he performed before night-fall. 
