The few minutes
lengthened out and out; half-hours went by; and yet there was no sign.
They went away down the burn; they went away up the burn; they made
wider casts, and narrowed in, like so many retrievers; and all to no
purpose. And meanwhile darkness and the night were coming on.
"He's lying dead somewhere, as sure as anything can be," Roderick said,
looking entirely puzzled and crestfallen; "and we'll hef to bring up a
terrier in the morning and search for him. I never sah the like o' that
in my life. When he fell where he stood I made sure he was feenished;
then he was up again and ran a little weh, and again he went down on his
knees--"
"It was then I saw him," Lionel exclaimed, "and I expected him to drop
the next moment. Why, he _must_ be about here, Roderick, he couldn't
vanish into the air--he wasn't a ghost--for I heard the thud of the
bullet when it struck him--"
"Ay, and me too," Roderick said, "but we will do no good now, for it is
getting so dark; and you hef to cross the two fords, sir--"
"The fords!" said Lionel. "By Jove! I forgot them. I say, we must hurry
on. I suppose you are sure to find him in the morning?"
"We will bring up a terrier whatever," Roderick said, doubtfully; for he
seemed to have been entirely disconcerted by the disappearance of the
phantom stag.
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