Grouse Shooting. 123 



us Bostock — ^who very soon began to discover that heather on the hillside 

 was very different walking from London flagstones — Archy and a couple 

 of smart lads, and my old setter Bang, with a young one who was in his 

 first season, but was a very promising pup. Bang was one of the best dogs 

 I ever had. He was a red Irish setter, and had lost the first joint of his 

 tail, on which account, and because moreover he was getting old, and 

 couldn't see a red dog in heather so well as he used to, his master parted 

 with him for a mere song. I am ashamed to say what I gave for him, but 

 this I will say, that I never shot behind a better. He was a little 

 headstrong at times ; but then nine times in ten it was when he was 

 right and you were wrong. With a dog nearly as good as himself he would 

 be a little jealous, but with this young one — which, by the" way, was of 

 the feminine gender — he was exceedingly tolerant, and really, if one 

 could fancy it, seemed to take pains to teach her her business ; and she 

 was quick enough to learn. 



As the heather got better we spread out, with Archy between us, and 

 one of the laddies on either flank. Our comrades were fast sinking from 

 sight on the other side of the brae as we got the first point, and that, as 

 luck would have it, fell to the bitch. She was cantering along nicely, when 

 she suddenly stopped midway, with her head half round. At first she 

 seemed a little undecided, but, looking back over her shoulder, she saw 

 old Bang about fifty or sixty yards off backing her like a crutch ; and this 

 steadied her. I walked up, and up got a single old cock with a prodigious 

 flutter, and I dropped him not twenty yards in front of her. Holding up 

 my hand to warn her, slie fell at once into the heather, and, whipping in 

 another cartridge, I walked slowly on to the bird, picked it up, whistled 

 her up, and let her nuzzle it, which she did delighted. 



" She'll make a topper," said Chiffens. 



"She's a gude wee bitchie," said Archy, caressing her. 



Again we set off, and this time Bang got the point, standing nobly 

 on a bank over a little loch. The bitch at first showed a disposition to run 

 in, but a word steadied her, and as Archy raised his arm she stood firm, 

 staring at Bang with all her eyes. Chiffens was nearest, but I had plenty 

 of time to get up before seven birds sprang up and went skimming away 



