THE WILDS OF SUTHEELAND. 255 



He fired, and the drake dropped nearly to the 

 gravel, then, recovering himself, separated from 

 his mate (which flew seaward), and laboured over 

 a corn-field, repassing the shooter a second time 

 at long distance was again hit, after which he 

 struggled round a landward height. 



We quickly followed with the retriever, but 

 never came on his traces afterwards. No doubt 

 where he pitched, there he lay and died. We 

 saw no more of these ducks, and were chagrined 

 to lose so fine a bird, as the nut above his bill 

 was quite perceptible when he flew past, and 

 proved him to be in brightest spring feather. 



Next morning we left Tain by the railway, 

 coming down for the first time the charming 

 route by Braemar, Kingussie, Eannoch, Blair- 

 Atholl, and Perth, reaching Glasgow in the 

 gloaming. 



THE END. 



