GOATSONTHEHILL. 61 



Dunbar, who was far below him, or from the manner in. 

 which his head-feathers projected, he did not appear to see 

 me at all. After waiting a short time without his moving, I 

 am sorry to say that I shot him deliberately in cold blood as 

 he sat. He fell down the face of the rock, and lay at the 

 bottom perfectly dead. I then had to consider how to get at 

 him, and Fred seemed to be considering the same thing, as 

 peering over the edge of the precipice he looked first at the 

 dead bird and then at me, with a countenance expressive of 

 " There is your bird now, but how are we to get at him ? " 

 This question, however, was soon settled by my marking the 

 place, and then having made a considerable detour, I 

 managed to reach the spot. In the meantime, Dunbar 

 having shot both barrels at the hen bird, she took her flight 

 straight off to the sea. After a short time she returned, but 

 kept at a wary distance, occasionally perching on the rocks, 

 but never remaining long in one place. It was a curious 

 sight from the high rocks several hundred yards above the 

 loch to watch the whole scene that was acting below, and to 

 see the long-winged bird sailing to and fro almost immedi- 

 ately below my feet, and yet far out of reach of shot. 



The sun began to sink below the seaward rocks, lighting 

 up only the highest summits of the hills to the south of the 

 lake. On the highest pinnacle of the rocks I saw several 

 goats lying in different picturesque attitudes, to catch 

 the last sunbeams, one old white fellow with vener- 

 able beard and long horns being the topmost point of 

 all. Whom they could belong to it was difficult to say 

 they seemed as wild as red deer. Dogs who are accustomed 

 to roe seem invariably to hunt goats. Returning homewards, 

 Fred began to snuff the air as if he smelt something he was 

 used to hunt. Expecting it to be a wild cat or some vermin, 

 I answered his appealing look by allowing him to go off in 

 pursuit of whatever it might be. Off he went, scrambling 

 over the rocks in a state of furious eagerness. After a short 

 time, however, a small flock of -goats rushed past me with 

 Mr. Fred in hot pursuit on their scent. Nothing would stop 

 him, notwithstanding his usual obedience, so I left him to 

 his chase, and some time afterwards he came up with us 

 again, looking heartily ashamed, and having run himself well 

 out of wind, the goats having probably got to some steep rock 

 of refuge where no dog could follow them. 



About ten o'clock, it being still quite light, we found our- 

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