WILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS 



self accordingly, one fine morning, early in October, started 

 before daybreak for a distant part of the mountain, where 

 we expected to find him; and we resolved to pass the night 

 at a shepherd's house far up in the hills, if we found that 

 our chace led us too far from home to return the same 

 evening. 



Long was our walk that day before we saw horn or hoof; 

 many a likely burn and corrie did we search in vain. The 

 shepherds had been scouring the hills the day before for 

 their sheep, to divide those which were to winter in the 

 low ground from those which were to remain on the hills. 

 However, the day was fine and frosty, and we were in the 

 midstof some of the most magnificent scenery in Scotland; 

 so that I, at least, was not much distressed at our want of 

 luck. Poor Donald, who had not the same enjoyment in 

 the beauty of the scene, unless it were enlivened by a herd 

 of deer here and there, began to grumble and lament our 

 hard fate; particularly as towards evening wild masses of 

 cloud began to sweep up the glens and along the sides of 

 the mountain, and every now and then a storm of cold rain 

 and sleet added to the discomfort of our position. There 

 was, however, something so very desolate and wild in the 

 scene and the day, that wrapt in my plaid, I stalked slow- 

 ly on enjoying the whole thing as much as if the elements 

 had been in better temper, and the Goddess of Hunting 

 propitious. 



We came in the afternoon to a rocky burn, along the 

 course of which was our line of march. To the left rose an 

 interminable-looking mountain, over the sides of which 

 were scattered a wilderness of grey rock and stone, some- 



404 



