872 WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WAYS CHAP. 



glens in the Highlands more picturesque. The road from Blair 

 Castle passes through lovely woods bordering the impetuous 

 stream ; this rushes wildly through contracted passes, hemmed in 

 by opposing rocks ; sometimes it is girt by stony cliffs half con- 

 cealed by lichens ; other portions of the face combine every shade 

 of colouring in vivid tints. The mountain ash, with clusters of 

 scarlet berries, overhangs the rocks in rich profusion of both fruit 

 and foliage, until at length the open glen is reached, beyond the 

 limit of the woods. 



This is a well-known resort of tourists, and nothing can exceed 

 the wild beauty of the scene, when about the middle of September 

 the autumnal tints have ornamented every leaf with peculiar 

 brightness. Although we have emerged from the main woods, 

 there are clumps of weeping birch with its silver bark and golden 

 leaves ; and rowan thickets bending over the rapid river, now and 

 then reflected in the calm surface of a deep pool, where the salmon 

 are lying waiting for a flood. This kind of rough scenery con- 

 tinues throughout the glen, the narrow bottom occupied by the 

 river, bordered by a good road, while the mountains rise upon 

 either side, and form the Grampian Hills. 



The afternoon was perfect ; all that was required was game. 



Certainly the presence of many ladies brought us luck ; for, 

 after scanning in vain a long expanse of country, we were suddenly 

 delighted by the almost magical appearance of a stag ; he had been 

 lying clown behind a large rock a little more than half-way up the 

 hill-face. He now stood regarding the carriages, and our large 

 party, which included the keepers, and the two hounds from Forest 

 Lodge. The stag was about 1000 yards distant I was only 

 afraid that he would commence a trot up the hill, and disappear 

 above the sky-line ; but fortunately we were upon the main road, 

 upon which the deer were accustomed to regard passengers 

 (although few), who did not interfere in any manner with their 

 domain. It was therefore decided that the party should turn 

 back, and drive for about a mile on the Castle side of Forest 

 Lodge, while I should walk on until I should be out of the deer's 

 sight ; I could then discover a favourable position for ascending 

 the hill, and coming down from above upon the stag. This was 

 an excellent arrangement. The party turned back, while I con- 

 tinued on my way, accompanied by two of the hill-men and the 

 dogs. 



It did not take us very long to climb the hill, and we found 

 ourselves upon the well-known desolate extent of heather, sloping 

 always upwards, although we had reached what from below 



