Blair Collection > Celtic magazine > Volume 5

282 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. j '
hunter and angler, were not received witli tlie same favour and reward ' i
which had formerly surprised his sportive competitors. The ladies were ' :
beginning to suffer from exposure to the chilling winds and rains which ''•
had followed somewhat suddenly in the wake of the splendid summer, i i
It was stiU early, and the morning was dull, the ground was soft with re-|
cent rains, and the vegetation of the woods was glistening with the heavy' i
dews, A few horses had been set apart for the convenience of the morej,!
distinguished ladies, and they were each led forward through the obstructed i J
pathway by some attentive gallant. A number of horses had also been re-
served for the purposes of the chase, and at the head of this foraging ra-
ther than sporting party, rode the swarthy Douglas. Now and then a
stag or some other wild inhabitant of these unfrequented forests was
started, and away the hunting party scampered, the horses' hoofs flinging
up the turf behind them amidst the general whoop and halloo, and the
deep impressive bay of the King's bloodhounds, while it was with some
difhculty that the rest of the party could be restrained from joining in the
general rout from the incumbent state of disorder in wliich the party
straggled forward, resulting from the irregular nature of the ground tra-
versed.
The day was drawing to a close, but the sun, which had scarcely been
seen for some weeks, had, in the early part of the afternoon, dispersed the
grey clouds of the morning, and now shone with unusual lustre on the
rusty habiliments and soded trappings of the King's equipage. Fatigue
and langour prevailed throughout the whole party — a slight eminence of a
long ramblmg line of hills branching off from the Grampian range was be-
ing mounted. The road, on either side, was beset with high and rugged
cliffs, — but as the top of the lower ridge was reached, a descent was made
towards a wide stretch of vale and forest, with a large sheet of water
glistening in the distance. The sun was just sinking with a red and
burning glow behind the mountains, and the various colours of the fading
woodlands were lit up in vivid contrast to the stern grandeur of the sur-
rounding country.
No time was allowed to admire the prospect ere a wild halloo reverbe-
rated amongst the mountains, and a whole herd of deer and wild cattle
bounded right across the path, amid the crackling of branches and shak-
ing of bushes. This incident threw the whole party into disorder. Every
horse, heedless of curb and rein, dashed forward in pursuit, and the two
squires who rode on either side of Dermond had much difficulty in rein-
ing in their prancing steeds, and holding back the spirited horse of the
young chieftain.
Soon all had become quiet save the dash of some men in the distance,
the rustling of the leaves, or the solitary chirp of some stray or homeless
bird ; and our hero found himself wending wearily forward with the small
retinue of two squires and six jackmen. Now and then some straggler
came across them, enquired the direction of the hunters, and spurring for-
ward in pursuit, disappearing speedily amongst the trees. At intervals a
horn was heard sounding in the distance, and the laggards quickened their
pace, making for the point Avhence tlie sound appeared to come, but the
calls became fainter and fainter, and as the sun sunk and darkness spread
over the labyrinth of forest, a deep sense of loneliness overtook the young
chieftain and his guards.