A MONTH AT STRATH MAACOE 199 



" Oh ! I have had an extra strong one made, so I will risk 

 it, while if you will only beat along that face by the track side, 

 I feel sure I shall get a shot or two." 



Wishing him luck, we sallied forth, leaving him being jolted 

 in his chair along the rough path, until we soon lost sight of 

 him. About an hour afterwards an old cock rose wild in front 

 of us to disappear straight ahead, and when a few seconds later 

 we heard Dyke's gun, we were both pleased and astonished at 

 finding he had got into such a good position, for it was certain 

 many more birds would take the same line of flight. This 

 proved to be the case, for by the time we neared Dyke we 

 had counted several double shots with some single ones — 

 thirteen discharges in all. 



Patcham said to me, " I wonder what he has bagged. 

 Hallo ! why, look, there is his bath-chair on the track below, 

 and flying a white flag, although it is empty ; and there, further 

 on, is Dyke's man with a flag also. Well, that is clever ; don't 

 you see the dodge.'' He has left them there to turn the birds 

 from the road and force them to come to himself; while under 

 yon stone, our friend is sitting snugly in the heather ; but what 

 on earth is he up to, Gee ? for he is crawling about on all-fours, 

 just like a bear." 



I noticed all that Patcham had pointed out, so only replied, 

 " Come along, let us go and see what it all means." 



By the time we reached our friend, having finished his 

 crawling, he was puffing a cigarette, and, in reply to our 

 enquiries as to whether he wanted the dogs to find any birds, 

 he smilingly said — 



" No, thanks ; you saw me doing retriever for myself, for 

 I find it less painful to crawl than to walk, and Pve picked 

 up my birds. I had quite a good stand, and got six brace. 

 Would you let one of the men put them in the panniers ? " 



We both exclaimed, " Bravo, indeed ; but pray do not over- 

 do it or knock yourself up " ; but he would not hear of going 

 back, so we lunched together on the roadside, while, for the 



