As e’er they heard of bands[271] at Doune?

Like bloodhounds now they search me out,—

Hark, to the whistle and the shout!—

If farther through the wilds I go,

I only fall upon the foe:

I’ll couch me here till evening gray,

Then darkling try my dangerous way.”

XXIX.

The shades of eve come slowly down,

The woods are wrapt in deeper brown,