A MONTH AT STRATHMAACOE i8i 



with Tom about 10.30, rather late, but he had to see to the 

 getting away of the other two sets of guns, for during the 

 first fortnight he sends out daily three parties of two guns 

 each. We draw lots for our beats over night, and take it 

 in turn to shoot with our host, while every day there is a small 

 bet of "five bob a nob" as to which couple should make the 

 best bag. 



The dogs were A i, and we found a great stock of birds, 

 and although they were rather wild, we brought home 79 brace 

 and some " various." Total for the three parties, 203 J brace ; 

 so sport was pretty equally divided — but Tom and I collared 

 the dollars ! 



August 13th, 14th, 15th, very fine each day; dollars not all 

 going into one pocket. Surrey is a real good fellow and a 

 fine shot. Up to this evening 775 brace of grouse have been 

 put into the larder. 



i6th, Sunday. — Breakfasted at ten o'clock; pretty Miss 

 Kent did not put in an appearance, and later on in the 

 smoking-room we heard from Tom that she was indisposed 

 and much upset by having seen a ghost during the night. On 

 this announcement Tom was overwhelmed with questions from 

 all sides. What ghost ? Whose ghost ? Which room was it 

 in ? were all asked him by different voices at the same moment. 

 When silence came at last, Tom Berks, with rather a grave 

 face, begged us not to chaff or question Miss Kent about her 

 adventure. 



"You see," said he, "she is so much upset that she wishes 

 to leave the house, but we have changed her room and per- 

 suaded her to stay on. Her story is that she woke in the 

 night to see the figure of a woman standing at the foot of 

 her bed, and from its appearance she was at once certain 

 it could be nothing earthly, so thereupon she was terrified 

 into a faint and did not recover her senses till it was day- 

 light. I must confess it is a very odd thing she should fancy 

 she has seen this apparition, for strange to say I heard from 



