2IO HIGHLAND SPORT 



on the saddle, while in the best of spirits a merry party- 

 stumbled home in the dark. On the way I confided to 

 Angus that though I had killed plenty of deer, including 

 several royals, yet the twelve points had never been ex- 

 ceeded, and that I was under a solemn vow the first time 

 I broke the spell by killing a stag with more than a dozen 

 points, to present the stalker with a bottle of whiskey for 

 each point, so then, asking him what brand of mountain dew 

 was his own peculiar weakness, I got for answer, " Thank 

 you kindly, sir, it will be seven-year-old Glenleevet that I'll 

 be taking." 



6th, Sunday. — This was a day that passed slowly in our 

 forest lodge. Of letters I had none to write, but not so the 

 other two, for the moment breakfast was done my companions 

 were hard at work with their pens ; so I strolled quietly down 

 the loch side, enjoying the sunny scenery, while rejoicing in 

 the mere fact of being alive and in the possession of my 

 senses. For was not each one gratified this lovely morning.-* 

 The sight, by the beauties of Nature and the blue smoke as 

 it curled from my pipe ; the hearing, by the croaking of a 

 raven in the distance, mingled with the cackling of the old 

 cocks as they rose from the heather in front of me ; the taste, 

 by tobacco ; the smell, by the indescribably refreshing scent of 

 peat, moss, and heather ; the feeling, by the pleasant sensation 

 of breathing fine air, when walking in robust health over 

 ground as soft as velvet to the tread. As the end of the 

 loch was neared it brought me close to the rough road-side, 

 where I met " the meenister," seated by his man, in a two- 

 wheeled species of buggy. The reverend gentleman pulled 

 up to converse with me, and as I noticed the dimensions of 

 his conveyance, all fear of being offered a lift to the kirk was 

 dispelled, for I was aware he was on his way to hold a service 

 at the head of the glen. Now, lest from this my readers may 

 put me down as a heathen, it must be stated that the afore- 

 said service was to be a Gaelic one. But thrice only have 



