I A Gossip on a Sutherland Hill-side 239 



about, nibbling at the coarse grass, shaking the wet 

 off their hides with a vehemence which surrounds 

 them with a halo of spray, holding a good deal of 

 communication with each other, and — there — as 

 usual ! quarrelling and fighting, rising perfectly 

 upright on their hind-legs, ears well laid back, and 

 striking at each other with their sharp fore-hoofs. 

 What vixens 1 



They are an odd little sept, these Loch au 

 Fureloch hinds : always to be seen about the same 

 spot on the lower grounds ; so used to the shepherd 

 that they do not move off when they can see him 

 clearly, and watch what he is about ; and never by 

 any chance is there a stag in their company, except 

 possibly some effeminate hobbledehoy of a pricket, 

 too weak-minded to take the risks of the hill-side. 



It must, however, be understood that these hinds 

 are Amazons, not Vestals, as is evident from the 

 number of calves trotting about among them, — 

 unless, indeed, they are the lady-superintendents of 

 an educational institution for young stags. My 

 own belief is that they quietly shirk all responsibility 

 as regards the safety and comfort of their lords, 

 and have formed themselves into a society of eman- 

 cipated and strong-minded hinds, — a most detestable 

 state of things, which, were it not for the sake of 

 the calves, I would alter with a rifle-bullet. As it 

 is, we show ourselves just enough to cause them to 

 move off quietly, and avoid giving them the wind, 

 as, if they suspect anything, and have no facts 



