第34章

TheyfoundonthespotappointedseveralpowerfulChiefs，toallofwhomWaverleywasformallypresented，andbyallcordiallyreceived。Theirvassalsandclansmen，apartofwhosefeudaldutyitwastoattendontheseparties，appearedinsuchnumbersasamountedtoasmallarmy。Theseactiveassistantsspreadthroughthecountryfarandnear，formingacircle，technicallycalledthe_tinchel，_which，graduallyclosing，drovethedeerinherdstogethertowardstheglenwheretheChiefsandprincipalsportsmenlayinwaitforthem。Inthemeanwhile，thesedistinguishedpersonagesbivouackedamongthefloweryheath，wrappedupintheirplaids；amodeofpassingasummer’snightwhichWaverleyfoundbynomeansunpleasant。

Formanyhoursaftersunrise，themountainridgesandpassesretainedtheirordinaryappearanceofsilenceandsolitude；

andtheChiefs，withtheirfollowers，amusedthemselveswithvariouspastimes，inwhichthejoysoftheshell，asOssianhasit，werenotforgotten。Othersapartsateonahillretired；’’probablyasdeeplyengagedinthediscussionofpoliticsandnews，asMilton’sspiritsinmetaphysicaldisquisition。

Atlengthsignalsoftheapproachofthegameweredescriedandheard。Distantshoutsresoundedfromvalleytovalley，asthevariouspartiesofHighlanders，climbingrocks，strugglingthroughcopses，wadingbrooks，andtraversingthickets，approachedmoreandmoreneartoeachother，andcompelledtheastonisheddeer，withtheotherwildanimalsthatfledbeforethem，intoanarrowercircuit。Everynowandthenthereportofmusketswasheard，repeatedbyathousandechoes。

Thebayingofthedogswassoonaddedtothechorus，whichgreweverlouderandmoreloud。Atlengththeadvancedpartiesofthedeerbegantoshowthemselves；andasthestragglerscameboundingdownthepassbytwoorthreeatatime，theChiefsshowedtheirskillbydistinguishingthefattestdeer，andtheirdexterityinbringingthemdownwiththeirguns。Fergusexhibitedremarkableaddress，andEdwardwasalsosofortunateastoattractthenoticeandapplauseofthesportsmen。

Butnowthemainbodyofthedeerappearedattheheadoftheglen，compelledintoaverynarrowcompass，andpresentingsuchaformidablephalanx，thattheirantlersappearedatadistance，overtheridgeofthesteeppass，likealeaflessgrove。

Theirnumberwasverygreat，andfromadesperatestandwhichtheymade，withthetallestofthered-deerstagsarrangedinfront，inasortofbattlearray，gazingonthegroupwhichbarredtheirpassagedowntheglen，themoreexperiencedsportsmenbegantoaugurdanger。Theworkofdestruction，however，nowcommencedonallsides。Dogsandhunterswereatwork，andmusketsandfuseesresoundedfromeveryquarter。

Thedeer，driventodesperation，madeatlengthafearfulchargerightuponthespotwherethemoredistinguishedsportsmenhadtakentheirstand。ThewordwasgiveninGaelictoflingthemselvesupontheirfaces；butWaverley，onwhoseEnglishearsthesignalwaslost，hadalmostfallenasacrificetohisignoranceoftheancientlanguageinwhichitwascommunicated。

Fergus，observinghisdanger，sprungupandpulledhimwithviolencetotheground，justasthewholeherdbrokedownuponthem。Thetidebeingabsolutelyirresistible，andwoundsfromastag’shornhighlydangerous，<>theactivityoftheChieftainThethrustfromthetynes，orbranches，ofthestag’shorns，wasaccountedfarmoredangerousthanthoseoftheboar’stusk：-

Ifthoubehurtwithhornofstag，itbringstheetothybier，Butbarber’shandshallboar’shurtheal；thereofhavethounofear。

maybeconsidered，onthisoccasion，ashavingsavedhisguest’slife。Hedetainedhimwithafirmgraspuntilthewholeherdofdeerhadfairlyrunoverthem。Waverleythenattemptedtorise，butfoundthathehadsufferedseveralveryseverecontusions；

and，uponafurtherexamination，discoveredthathehadsprainedhisankleviolently。

Thischeckedthemirthofthemeeting，althoughtheHighlanders，accustomedtosuchincidents，andpreparedforthem，hadsufferednoharmthemselves。Awigwamwaserectedalmostinaninstant，whereEdwardwasdepositedonacouchofheather。Thesurgeon，orhewhoassumedtheoffice，appearedtounitethecharactersofaleechandaconjuror。Hewasanoldsmoke-driedHighlander，wearingavenerablegreybeard，andhavingforhiss