266 HIGHLAND SPORT 



The programme was duly carried out, but the Glasgow 

 billiard table made such a great improvement in Bagge's per- 

 formances, that he easily won both matches, with some outside 

 bets into the bargain, and in a downpour of Greenock rain — 

 which is quite a special sort of rain — the party returned to 

 Cashbucket. On sending them ashore, their host announced 

 his intention of spending the night on board the Osprey, 

 with a view of settling up some accounts with the crew, so 

 therefore next morning the house party felt no great surprise at 

 not seeing the yacht lying at her moorings, and later, on hear- 

 ing that Bagge had sent word he had gone on a fishing trip and 

 would be back to dinner, all the " guns " took to the hill. When 

 the evening came, as the Osprey had not returned, the 

 party at Cashbucket sought their beds, while wondering what 

 had gone wrong with her. After breakfast the next day the 

 Factor for the estate was announced, and explained to the 

 "guns" he had come by appointment with Bagge to receive 

 the balance of the rent, only ^loo having been paid on account. 

 After informing Mr. Factor of their host's absence, and men- 

 tioning the fact that they themselves were only paying guests, 

 who had already handed over to Bagge ;^2 50 each, it may be 

 guessed with what feelings of dismay they learnt Bagge had 

 signed the lease in the joint names of himself and the first gun 

 who joined him, which he had contrived to do by inventing ex- 

 cuses for delaying the signing until he had secured his premier 

 customer, and that done he had not hesitated to forge the vic- 

 tim's name. Mr. Factor was very polite and expressed much 

 sympathy with us in our trouble, but, seeing we intended to re- 

 sist further payment, he took himself off to consult his employer. 



Needless to say, the lessee of Cashbucket did not return, 

 while though wires were promptly sent off to stop payment 

 of the cheques for the billiards and the next season's shooting, 

 it was found Bagge had been too quick, for after landing his 

 friends at Cashbucket, he had steamed back to Greenock that 

 same night to turn the cheques into gold the very next day. 



