A MONTH AT STRATHMAACOE 225 



vowing the stags themselves, alarmed at the prospect of a 

 tourist-traffic through their quiet haunts, had combined together 

 in a great charge on the white post, and had knocked it into 

 the water. With grave concern Tom Berks heard both sides 

 of the case, before he himself started off to inspect the scene 

 of the disaster, when after a most minute examination he 

 arrived at the conclusion that lightning alone had been the 

 instrument of destruction. Anyway, the sign-post has never 

 been replaced. 



15 th. — This was a great day for Dyke and his perambu- 

 lator, for as most of the corn was cut on one of the lowland 

 beats, we three shot partridges in line, and as there were 

 plenty of roads, by continually heading us Dyke secured 

 many driven shots. It is true careless gunners might have 

 peppered him, but when we mentioned the matter, he paid us 

 the compliment of ridiculing the idea of three old hands making 

 any such mistake. We had a very fine day's sport, getting no 

 less than 1 7 1 head : made up of 115 partridges, 7 grouse, 

 25 hares, 4 ducks, 9 snipe, and 11 rabbits. 



1 6th. — Alas, with waking thoughts came the remembrance 

 that this day I was to say adieu to my kind host and hostess 

 and all the pleasures of Strathmaacoe. Now as it cannot be 

 disputed that leave-takings are odious if unavoidable necessi- 

 ties, I will refrain from describing my parting with Tom and 

 Mrs. Berks or their guests, but suffice it to say I sincerely hope 

 some of my readers may come to the end of this diary with but 

 one iota of the regret I felt at leaving my kind friends. 



