16 ON TEE GRAMPIAN HILLS. 



of the slain ; tlien rose up a fine covey of strong grouse, 

 which reluctantly we allowed to wing their way un- 

 molested, for a time at any rate. Then we put up a 

 large covey of partridges, and another snipe or two, 

 and were satisfied that there was no lack of game on 

 the estate of Rhidorach. After luncheon we drove 

 along Glen Beg, which leads to Braemar and Bal- 

 moral, through the grandest scenery, the grim, 

 rugged Grampian Hills towering gloomily over us ; 

 and the jingling of the bells on our high- courage d 

 nag sounded cheerily as we wended our way to the 

 keeper's house to make arrangements for the ensuing 

 day. I was much struck with the beautiful reflection 

 of the rainbows on the hillsides, several arcs of vivid 

 brightness being visible on this occasion. To me it 

 was a novel sight, though, from the frequent occur- 

 rence, the inhabitants of the glen were so accustomed 

 to the sight that they paid little attention to this 

 atmospherical display. Glen Beg is not always seen 

 under such delightful auspices, as Alexander Robertson 

 the keeper informed me that for fifteen weeks of 

 the past winter the glen was impassable owing to the 

 heavy fall and drifting of the snow ; and he and the 

 family, consisting of his wife and nine children, were 

 cut off entirely from all communication with the outer 

 world for this long period. When asked how he got 

 on for food, he said he had laid up a large stock of oat- 

 meal and dried fish, so that their wants were satisfied, 

 having enough and to spare for some of his less 

 fortunate neighbours. I should imagine they must 

 have felt a trifle dull during that long and dreary 

 winter time. All our arrangements being carefully 

 made, we trotted back at a rattling rate to the Manse, 



