akened
by the cry of hounds in pursuit of game. These sounds came from the wood
on the crest of the hill above them; and the clamorous earnestness with
which they assailed the ear, and roused the far echo of the highlands,
showed the object of chase to have been suddenly surprised and hotly
followed. The outcry was heard, for some moments, pursuing a direction
towards the river, when, suddenly from the midst of the forest, the
sharp twang of a rifle-shot showed that some hunter was on the watch to
profit by the discovery of the dogs.

Robinson, as soon as he heard the report, urged his horse forward with
speed, to the first turn of the road below; dismounted, and, throwing
his rifle into the palm of his left hand, stood ready to give his fire
wherever he might find occasion. Butler followed, and reined up close
beside his companion.

"There is game afoot," said Galbraith, "and if that shot has not done
its business, it may be my turn to try a hand."

These words were hardly spoken, when a wounded buck rushed to the brink
of the bank, some twelve or fifteen feet above the heads of the
travellers, and regardless of the presence of enemies, made one frantic
bound forward into the air, and fell dead almost at Robinson's feet. So
effectually had the work of death been done upon the poor animal, that
he seemed to have expired, in the convulsion of this last leap, before
he reached the ground; his antlers were driven into the clay; his eyes
were fixed, and not a struggle followed.

"It was a home-shot that brought this poor fugitive to the earth," said
Butler, as he stood gazing at the piteous spectacle before him, "and
sped by a practised hand."

"I don't count him a good man, major," said Galbraith, with professional
indifference, "who would mangle his meat by random firing. Now, this
buck was taken sideways, as he leaped above the tops of the bushes,
which is the ticklishest of all the ways of shooting a deer. The man
that plucked this fellow, I'll warrant, can plant his ball just where he
likes: right under the arm is the place for certainty; and the thing
couldn't have been prettier done if the man had had a rest and a
standing shot."

During this short interval, the hounds had arrived on the spot where the
buck lay bleeding, and these, after a few minutes, were followed by two
hunters of very dissimilar appearance, who came on foot, slowly leading
their horses up the hill.

The first was a tall, gaunt woodman, o