32 ON THE GRAMPIAN HILLS. 



business is to commence, and soon the grouse were 

 falling to the shots of my skilful companions. The 

 weather, however, turned exceedingly wet, spoiling the 

 sport, and driving us home to shelter, the bag being 

 only some twenty brace, and one brace ptarmigan. 

 Not daunted by the heavy rain I persisted in climbing 

 to the " Home of the Ptarmigan," and was rewarded 

 by seeing some twenty brace on the wing, but only in 

 the distance. Let us have a bright hot day, when they 

 will lie close amidst the weather-beaten gray boulders, 

 whose age it would be difficult to determine, then the 

 keeper promises me that I shall kill some. Time will 

 show, but as I killed two out of my three first shots, 

 it is probable I may. To an elderly gentleman who 

 has toiled up a steep hill, and then finds that the dogs 

 are pointing in a still steeper place, and is called upon 

 to mount quickly, though utterly out of breath, to that 

 particular spot, it is rather a trial ; but it has to be 

 done, if you are to kill grouse on a Highland moor 

 such as Ehidorach. 



