ossendale. But on
that morning a strange hound joined the pack that outstripped them all.

"Blow," cried Lord William, "till the loud echoes ring, and the fleet
hounds o'ertake yon grizzled mongrel."

Both horses and dogs were driven to their utmost speed, but the strange
hound still kept ahead. Over moor and fell they still rushed on, the
hounds in full cry, though as yet guided only by the scent, the object
of their pursuit not being visible. Suddenly a white doe was seen,
distant a few yards only, and bounding away from them at full speed. She
might have risen out of the ground, so immediate was her appearance. On
they went in full view, but the deer was swift, and she seemed to wind
and double with great dexterity. Her bearing was evidently towards the
steep crags on the east. They passed the Tower of Bernshaw, and were
fast approaching the verge of that tremendous precipice, the "Eagle
Crag." Horse and rider must inevitably perish if they follow. But Lord
William slackened not in the pursuit; and the deer flew straight as an
arrow to its mark,--the very point where the crag jutted out over the
gulf below. The huntsmen drew back in terror; the dogs were still in
chase, though at some distance behind;--Lord William only and the
strange hound were close upon her track. Beyond the crag nothing was
visible but cloud and sky, showing the fearful height and abruptness of
the descent. One moment, and the gulf must be shot:--his brain felt
dizzy, but his heart was resolute.

"Mause, my wench," said he, "my neck or thine!--Hie thee; if she's over,
we are lost!"

Lord William's steed followed in the hound's footsteps to a hair. The
deer was almost within her last spring, when the hound, with a loud
yell, doubled her, scarcely a yard's breadth from the long bare neb of
that fearful peak, and she turned with inconceivable speed so near the
verge that Lord William, in wheeling round, heard a fragment of rock,
loosened by the stroke from his horse's hoof, roll down the precipice
with a frightful crash. The sudden whirl had nearly brought him to the
ground, but he recovered his position with great adroitness. A loud
shriek announced the capture. The cruel hound held the deer by the
throat, and they were struggling together on the green earth. With
threats and curses he lashed away the ferocious beast, who growled
fiercely at being driven from her prey. With looks of sullenness and
menace, she scampered off, leaving Lord Willia