334 GUN, RIFLE, AND HOUND. 



horizon were some steep, hazy peaks which were 

 pointed out to us as the Isle of Man. What was 

 more to the point just then was that far before us 

 lay a purple stretch of moor one of the. favourite 

 beats on the moor. On we went over this, picking 

 up here a brace, there a single bird, and there a 

 couple of brace. Sometimes, too, a covey, deprived 

 of its natural leaders, would drop again close in 

 front and "lie like stones" till we had killed 

 them all. At last we saw before us a high 

 stone dyke, indicating the " march," or boundary of 

 the estate. A good many coveys had dropped be- 

 tween us and it, and after some consultation between 



our young host and the keeper, E and I were 



posted behind some conveniently-placed gorse and 

 rocks, while the rest of the party, consisting of our 

 host with the keeper and his lads, skirted the strip 

 and beat it back from the boundary. This proceed- 

 ing gave E and I some very pretty driven shots, 



after which we adjourned to lunch, where a trickling 

 rill sparkled on the hillside. After lunch we walked 

 back again towards the hill, down it, and up again 

 further on. At last the beat was exhausted, and the 

 sun was beginning to sink. The heat had been very 

 tiring, and we were not sorry to knock off, and turn 

 our steps homewards. In the avenue we met our 

 host, who hailed us. 



" Well, boys, what have you done ? " 



" Fifty-seven brace of grouse and five extras," was 

 our reply. 



The true or Scottish grouse is the only European 



