642 A DAY ON THE MOORS. 



thusiasm abated before we had proceeded far : the morning' had not 

 dawned, and the stars were provokingly clear and beautiful, and gave 

 rather too much of the air of midnight adventure to my purpose. 



The grey, doubtful light which precedes sun-rise, had just begun 

 to appear when we reached the muir ; the dogs gamboled round as if 

 they understood my business, and occasionally darted across the 

 ground when led off' by the fresh scent of grouse, but almost imme^ 

 diately returned, as if they feared a hoax, and were questing owls in 

 place of higher game. Daylight was now advancing fast : on every 

 side was heard the crowing of the muir-fowl, which was answered by 

 the different families of the feathered tribe, like sentinels passing the 

 reveil from watch to watch, over the muir. Now and then a flutter 

 of wings caught our ear ; and we could see, between the heavy mist, 

 which hung, canopy-like, all around, and the dark heath with which 

 it almost mingled, a pack of grouse taking a low flight, and settling 

 at no great distance, and then, with head erect and some appearance 

 of alarm, running about under the direction of their parent leader. 

 The effect of the mist in magnifying the few objects presented to it 

 was very singular, and gave a romantic colouring to my feelings in 

 that lonely spot. A few sheep feeding near me had the bulk of oxen ; 

 but their difference of shape, though it puzzled me how to reconcile it 

 with their size, did not unravel the mystery ; and Archy Fraser had 

 some difficulty to persuade me that I laboured under a deception, 

 which, as he was insensible to it, appeared to him the more remark- 

 able. Occasionally we could hear voices, though we could not dis- 

 tinguish the speakers in the dense fog, and the sounds felt harsh and 

 unmellowed on the ear ; they were evidently sportsmen, from their 

 hurried, impatient progress. Again the grouse were alarmed ; and I 

 shall never forget the effect upon me, when five fine birds settled 

 close beside where I sat, and for the first time I saw them strutting 

 among the heather, could mark their eye turning within its scarlet 

 fringe, and observe their motions. 



The mists now rolled slowly and heavily from the sides of the hills, 

 and spread over the low grounds like a vast lake ; the level sun could 

 not penetrate them, but gave a rich yellow glow to the whole medium. 

 In the partial glimpses which were afforded by the dispersion of the 

 vapours, I could see sportsmen in different directions, and this was 

 sufficient to disturb and break the apathy which the gloom of my 

 situation had at first produced, and to kindle anew my zeal by emu- 

 lation and competition. At this moment the dogs were drawing with 

 the impetuosity inseparable from new game : " Take care, Ranger 

 Why so fast, Juno ? Hold, there ;" at once they set off, their no&es 

 nearly breast high, and an old cock was sprung at some distance. 

 " Thrash them weel," was the remedy which Archy Fraser suggested 

 for their fault ; and at that time I thought they deserved it, although 

 better experience has shown me that solitary birds are generally a 

 severe trial to the temper of the best bred pointer ; and if they are 

 improved by the whip, the steadiness of the master's nerves is gene- 

 rally hurt in a tenfold degree. " Steady, steady, Juno !" she had 

 now settled to fresh game, and looking round to me with eyes flaming, 

 and tail erected, sunk down among the heather. Ranger was in an- 



