A MONTH AT STRATH MAACOE 185 



disappointment, as nothing could be seen but a fox prowling 

 some hundred yards off, and even though it be in Scotland, 

 and many, many miles from any hunting country, I yet fight 

 shy of pulling trigger on one, while on this occasion there was 

 the greater reason for refraining, as there were two masters of 

 hounds amongst our party ; for my host and one of his guests 

 each hunted a celebrated pack. 



" Shoot, sir, shoot ! " whispered Donald ; so to please him 

 I brought the rifle to my shoulder and pulled the trigger as 

 if I had been taking a shot at a grouse with a gun, and to 

 my astonishment poor fox dropped stone dead. A fine big 

 dog he was, and Donald pocketed the brush to nail to his 

 vermin board, while on arriving home the death of reynard 

 was discreetly omitted from the list of the day's adventures. 

 The grousing parties had 93 brace between them. 



20th. — This morning we all went together to make an 

 attack on the ptarmigan of the heights above the castle. As 

 we started Surrey came up and patted me on the back, while 

 whispering in my ear — 



" I say, Gee, shall you and I give the others a lead up the 

 hill, for if we set them a good pace, the whole party will be 

 more quickly at the top ? " 



I consented, and off we strode. Presently I heard sup- 

 pressed laughter behind me, and on looking back beheld a 

 grin on every following face. I wondered what the joke was, 

 and on again glancing to the rear found the same grinning 

 faces, while all eyes were fixed on my back. Instinctively I 

 swung my hand behind me, and as I did so, Surrey with a big 

 guffaw bounded out of harm's way, for it clutched the brush of 

 my victim of yesterday. That inveterate joker had been to 

 Donald's cottage before breakfast, had seen the brush, wormed 

 out the story, and having possessed himself of the trophy, had 

 meanly hooked it on to my coat with a previously attached 

 bent pin when he patted me on the back in so friendly a 

 manner. And thus adorned, he had persuaded me to march 

 2 B 



