268 THE GROUSE 



the boulder-strewn neck connecting the 

 two peaks, while the half-dozen of gillies 

 and stalkers divided into two parties, 

 each devoting their attention to keeping 

 the birds off one of the tops. 



We had not long to wait ; the last 

 beater had hardly passed from our sight 

 before a glint of white wings aslant the 

 sun announced the advent of the first 

 covey. 



Ensued an hour of beautiful sport ; the 

 shooting proved exceptionally difficult ; 

 the mere fact of having birds coming 

 from front and rear at once is not con- 

 ducive to accuracy, and when, in addition, 

 such an infinite variety of shots were 

 presented, some sailing high and straight 

 overhead, others hugging the hill in 

 baffling curves, it may be readily under- 

 stood that there was little proportion 

 between the numbers of slain and the 

 little heap of empty cases which adorned 

 each rocky fortalice where a gun had 

 been ensconced. 



After a while the ptarmigan would no 



