4o6 



The Coiuitvy Gcntkiiiaiis MagarAnc 



cade until within 40 yards, when she was 

 saluted by a right and left. Starting off at 

 speed she made straight for the other gun, 

 but the rough ground soon hid her until we 

 heard a single shot. Glad that it was not a 

 double one, we hurried up to see the sports- 

 man triumphantly seated on his quarry. It 

 -was only a yearling, and had been fairly hit 

 by the double shot, some of the pellets we 

 picked out of the hair, not having even pene- 

 trated the hide. The single shot was only 

 about I o yards off, and killed her on the spot. 



Early next morning our " bus " was at the 

 •door for Glenforsa. This massive equipage 

 had a railed roof strong enough to bear a 

 ton, immovable windows, and a low door at 

 the stern, usually strapped open. AVe yoked 

 the heaviest of the farm-horses as wheeler, 

 and in the lead an old white Mull garron of 

 25, harnessed with cart ropes, and ridden 

 by the lightest shepherd as postilion. When 

 the top was loaded with provisions, and 

 the inside filled by sportsmen, dogs, and 

 rifles, with the overseer as state coachman, 

 we grinded slowly but merrily along to the 

 wonder and amusement of Mull residents. 



The wind had not been in " the richt 

 Glenforsa airt" for some days, so of course 

 there were few deer on the ground. Our 

 first hunt was thoroughly unsuccessful. Only 

 one hind in "The Knock," which bounded 

 past me out of all fair distance for Torlochan 

 wood. I put up the long sight, and missed 

 with both barrels. We v/ere now sure at 

 least of one deer in Torlochan, and as usual 

 took post to guard the runs from this wood 

 to Garrochree. The highest Torlochan pass 



which I chose, commands a fine view of 

 Garrochree, so I was nearly certain to detect 

 deer leaving either wood. The dogs soon 

 found the hind in Torlochan, chased her 

 round the wood, when she bolted through 

 an unguarded pass into Garrochree. Trim 

 and Yarrow followed in company, and I was 

 tracing their course, and trying to make out 

 the quarry among the trees, when full before 

 me, and within a short distance of his first 

 escape, stood the Garrochree stag. Well 

 aware that the dogs were not after him, he 

 was complacently watching the hunt, and 

 when he saw his territory fairly invaded re- 

 treated through his customary defile. I 

 looked revengefully at his exit, and hoped to 

 come round him yet. With the exception of 

 these two deer, all our coverts were drawn 

 blank ; and after a hard day's work we re- 

 turned to Glenforsa House — cheered, how- 

 ever, by a change of the wind. 



The customary rest-day was given to the 

 pack, which we devoted to the Glenforsa 

 pheasants, killing the round dozen, besides 

 hares and rabbits. As the wind had con- 

 tinued steady, we felt sure of deer next day. 

 and in walking home were concerting the 

 best mode of driving the covers, when the 

 overseer met us with dejected mien. "The 

 ugly buck has bolted after his master to 

 Scalastal," says he. " We cheated him a' day 

 that Dugal was here, but the naasty beast 

 fan' us oot and set after him." To supply 

 the place of the truant we asked a day's 

 driving from the shepherd who owned the 

 old dog already referred to, which was at 

 once cheerfully given. 



