DAYS STOLEN FOR SPORT 139 



beyond unravelling have some one more eloquent 

 than myself to talk to them ! Phew ! how hot it is 

 in these low-lying highland glens !' 



Grass-crowned hills, looking like huge pokes of 

 freshly-made hay, were ail around me, and over them 

 fleecy clouds were being hunied, telling of wind above; 

 but not a breath came down. Humid heat rose, 

 from bog and water, and no aid from toil was needed 

 to cause poor me to m.op my brow v/ith such frequency 

 that it soon began to smart. 



A herd of cattle, unnoticed until then, came scam- 

 pering by with tails outstretched at extraordinary 

 angles, some quite upright. One poor cow, almost 

 tail-less, was evidently more plagued than any of the 

 others, as shown by the mad pace at which she careered 

 past, wildly kicking, making for a leafy bush into 

 which she backed and waited for her companions. 



Then there came a buzzing in my ears, followed 

 by tiny pin-pricks, which hastened the movem.ent of 

 the hand that held the cambric mop until there was 

 a never-ceasing swirl of a damp rag closely dotted 

 with dead midges. 



You may clear a space in which to breathe by 

 smoking; but they hover near, waiting to pounce. 

 Yesterday I smoked , from mom till night to keep 

 them off, and my tongue was so dried up this morning 

 that I almost vowed to give up smoking altogether, but, 

 on second thoughts, preferred to try myself with 

 a preliminary day or two. So far — it's noon— language 

 is all I have used to drive them off, and, disrespectful 

 as the tenor of what I've said has been, they are with 

 me still. Talking may much reheve our feehngs, 

 but it kills no flies. To kiU as many as they can gives 

 men no com.punction; but what's the good of slaying? 

 Countless numbers sniff the blood and thirst for 

 vengeance. If one only had the patience of Job so 

 as to be able to hold one's hand and tongue in such 

 1 case ! Then surely a crown would drop from out 



