208 DAYS OF DEER-STALKING. 



The following account will prove the extent to which 

 poaching was occasionally carried on, even in the face of 

 honest and vigilant keepers. 



One of the most notorious poachers in Atholl forest in 

 former days, was D S .* He resided in the dis- 

 trict, and is still living. He kept his masons upon venison 

 whilst they were building his house in 1812, and subsisted 

 his family on the same diet. 



This D S , accompanied by C - R, - and 



A e, went forth on a poaching excursion in 



the forest of Atholl, when they knew that the regular 

 foresters were upon distant duty. After having killed two 



or three deer, which C- R , as being the least skilful 



shot of the party, was left to gralloch, night came on, and 

 they boldly made for the lodge of Ridorrach.f Early the 

 next morning the wind was to the north, and they saw a 

 long string of deer coming forward towards Ben Derig ; 

 judging from this that some one was coming up the glen, 

 they shifted their quarters without loss of time, crossed the 

 Bruar, arid from an eminence on the west of the river, with 

 the help of their glasses, they spied Donald Macbeath, the 

 forester, who lived down the glen, at Richlachrie, and who 

 was coming up the water side. 



Having the advantage of the ground, and the wind being 

 north, this did not impede their operations, and by one 



o'clock D S had shot two hinds. In the midst of 



this success they saw three men (who had probably been 

 stalking them for some time) running towards them at full 

 speed. They immediately took to flight, but having their 

 guns and other incumbrances with them, whilst their pur- 

 suers were empty-handed, they lost ground rapidly. Thus 

 they were reduced to the predicament either of surrender- 

 ing or giving battle. Things being in this state, O e 



motioned to them with his hand to keep back, and told 

 them that if they did not mind his voice, he would send a 

 stronger and a more unwelcome messenger to them. They 



* Some of these worthies being still in existence, their names are partly 

 suppressed according to promise. 



1 1 am not quite clear as to the accuracy of this name, being unacquainted 

 with it myself. 



