A DAY AFTER PTARMIGAN m 



this is the foundation of it all, the call of the 

 wild, the yearning for the hills, the rest and 

 strength they are to the heart that turns to 

 them as the needle to the Pole. 



My eyes dwell long on a mighty peak 

 that cleaves the sky over yonder on a level 

 with its twin neighbour, the pinnacle of the 

 forest. 



Only a few weeks ago, one hot September 

 day, the Lady of Black Mount and I stood by 

 the cairn that from here looks a pin-point on 

 the crest. I had the rifle that day, and she 

 did me the honour to come with me for the 

 walk. It is a proud moment always for a 

 pupil when the master eye comes to look on. 



What a day that was, resplendent and 

 gorgeous, and what a walk ! Up and up, 

 higher and higher ; the deer were on the move 

 towards the highest ground, and we after 

 them ; though it was rather like pursuing the 

 end of the rainbow. If only we had been after 

 ptarmigan the bag might have been heavy, for 

 they rose close to us on all sides, sometimes in 

 twos and threes, sometimes in large coveys ; 



