EEMINISCENCES OF THE LEWS. 53 



only one instance of his missing a stag, — and 

 I have seen him make really marvellous shots, 

 both standing and running. 



He was, as I have already said, a very good 

 game shot — not that Lews grouse required any 

 very good shooting, as the birds never are too 

 wild there. But he once killed a hundred brace 

 of grouse to his own gun at Aline in one day, 

 as already mentioned — a feat I would not have 

 believed any man could have done ; nor would 

 he have done it, but for his imp. Few men I 

 have ever seen could fish better ; but here he 

 had a failing — he was the most inveterate fish- 

 poacher it was ever my fortune to encounter. 

 When at Harrow, he and a confederate dragged 

 every pond for miles round that sacred spot. 

 He was never happy in the fishing way but 

 when he was getting that blessed net of his 

 into the water somehow or other. There was 

 a nice little loch (Georgium) about four miles 

 from Aline, good for sea-trout and an occa- 

 sional salmon, but very sulky. We caught 

 him one day coming home in his cart, with his 

 net and some fish, having taken a haul in this 

 our little sanctum, and looking as pleased as a 

 schoolboy that had successfully pillaged an 

 orchard. He could not resist poaching, even 

 his own loch. 



