A DAY AFTER PTARMIGAN 109 



open, ahead and around me instead of devot- 

 ing my sole attention to the rocky ground 

 under my feet. How often have I blessed 

 the fact that my stalker is weighted an extra 

 9 Ib. with the rifle, as I, minus that weight, 

 pant to keep close behind him. 



When we reached the top of the ridge we 

 expanded into line, walking about thirty 

 yards apart, and took a turn northwards to 

 the end of the corrie. Before long Donald's 

 blunderbuss boomed out at a covey of four or 

 five ptarmigan about fifty yards off, with no 

 result except a proof they were not going to 

 sit close. A little farther on a blue hare 

 jumped up under my nose, which was quickly 

 put in the bag. On we went, scrambling in 

 and out of rocks and across big stones, till we 

 came to the edge of the steep descent into the 

 Sanctuary. Here is one of my favourite bits 

 of the whole forest, looking into the very 

 heart of the holy of holies, with all its charm 

 and mystery of forbidden land. 



I suggested we should sit a few minutes and 

 have a spy. There was plenty to look at, 



