134 DAYS OF DEER-STALKING. 



success, and do not ' spill the good creature,' for in such a 

 morning as this, believe me, it is most salubrious ; manifold 

 indeed are its virtues. What trade does it not quicken ? 

 It is a good carpenter, a good mason, a good road-maker, 

 and a most capital deer-driver, provided it be moderately 

 and discreetly dealt with, just as you deal with it, 

 gentlemen." 



" It is all this, sure eneuch ; and I have often thought, 

 yer honour, that the gauger who gangs intill the poor body's 

 shieling, and taks awa his wee bit still, cannot be right at 

 heart. It is a foul raid, and he can be no Christian. As 

 for government whiskey, it is poor unhalesome stuff, and I 

 wish the gaugers may stick to it ; they will be sooner out 

 of the way of honest men. But our home-made is a comfort 

 the morn and the even, and a warm side to us o'er the 

 moor." 



" Thou art a perfect oracle, Peter ; and of course thou 

 sayest true. But it has killed many a tall fellow for all 

 that, and taken some of your best hill companions to their 

 last home. So now wipe my glass no, not the whiskey 

 glass, man, but the prospect, as you call it : one of Dollond's 

 best it is, but you see there's a blear on it. And now let us 

 start, for the glens are lit up, the sun rides high, and the 

 day is far on. Nay, look not for deer on these heights, 

 they will be all low down. It is useless to put off time ; so 

 forward, my lads a good hill-man's step, long, quick, and 

 lasting. No better way of walking when time presses. 

 And don't be drinking out of every burn. Carry the rifles 

 with their muzzles to the rear, and- then you will not drill 

 me with one of my own balls, as Sandy Macintosh there 

 was near doing the other day." 



" Not so near, either, for the ball didna pass within half 

 a fut o' ye, and I didna pull the trigger, so it wasna me 

 that was to blame ; I joost took up the gun by the neb, as 

 she lay on the ground ahint you, and as I pulled her alang, 

 the heather caught the wee bit trigger, and somehow or 

 anither, she banged aff; so I couldna help it." 



" Nothing can be more evident, Sandy ; but only just 

 keep the muzzle to the rear in future, and fight like the 

 wily Parthian." 



