"The toils are pitched, and the stakes are set, 590 Ever sing merrily, merrily; The bows they bend, and the knives they whet, Hunters live so cheerily. "It was a stag, a stag of ten, Bearing its branches sturdily; 595 He came stately down the glen, Ever sing hardily, hardily. "It was there he met with a wounded doe, She was bleeding deathfully; She warned him of the toils below, 600 Oh, so faithfully, faithfully! "He had an eye, and he could heed, Ever sing warily, warily; He had a foot, and he could speed-- Hunters watch so narrowly." 605 XXVI Fitz-James's mind was passion-tossed, When Ellen's hints and fears were lost; But Murdoch's shout suspicion wrought, And Blanche's song conviction brought. Not like a stag that spies the snare, 610 But lion of the hunt aware, He waved at once his blade on high, "Disclose thy treachery, or die!" Forth at full speed the Clansman flew, But in his race his bow he drew. 615 The shaft just grazed Fitz-James's crest, And thrilled in Blanche's faded breast. Murdoch of Alpine! prove thy speed, For ne'er had Alpine's son such need! With heart of fire, and foot of wind, 620 The fierce avenger is behind! Fate judges of the rapid strife-- The forfeit death--the prize is life! Thy kindred ambush lies before, Close couched upon the heathery moor; 625 Them couldst thou reach!--it may not be-- Thine ambushed kin thou ne'er shalt see, The fiery Saxon gains on thee! Resistless speeds the deadly thrust, As lightning strikes the pine to dust; 630 With foot and hand Fitz-James must strain, Ere he can win his blade again. Bent o'er the fallen, with falcon eye, He grimly smiled to see him die; Then slower wended back his way, 635 Where the poor maiden bleeding lay. XXVII