CHAPTER THREE THE GROUSE 



ghaist is still to the fore, and the loch side is no canny after 

 the gloaming. But, Lord guide us. Sir, what's that?" and 

 a large long-legged hind rose from some hollow close to 

 the loch, and having stood for a minute with her long ears 

 standing erect, and her gaze turned intently on us, she 

 trotted slowly off, soon disappearing amongst the broken 

 ground. But where are the dogs all this time? There they 

 are, both standing, and evidently at different packs of 

 grouse. I killed three of these birds, taking a right and left 

 shot at one dog's point, and then going to the other. 



Off went Old Shot now, according to his usual habit, 

 straight to a rushy pool. I had him from a friend in Ire- 

 land, and being used to snipe-shooting, he preferred it to 

 everything else. The cunning old fellow chose not to hear 

 my call, but made for his favourite spot. He immediately 

 stood, and now for the first time seemed to think of his 

 master, as he looked back over his shoulder at me, as much 

 as to say, " Make haste down to me, here is some game." 

 And sure enough up got a snipe, which I killed. The report 

 of my gun putting up a pair of mallards, one of which I 

 winged a long way off, "Hie away, Shot," and Shot, who 

 was licensed to take such liberties, splashed in with great 

 glee, and after being lost to sight for some minutes amongst 

 the high rushes, came back with the mallard in his mouth. 

 "A bad lesson for Carlo that, Master Shot," but he knows 

 better than to follow your example. We now went up the 

 opposite slope leaving Lochan-na-cailleaich behind us, and 

 killing some grouse, and a mountain hare, with no white 

 about her as yet. We next came to a long stony ridge, with 

 small patches of high heather. A pair of ravens rising from 



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