250 DAYS OF DEER-STALKING. 



purpose : one to assist you in stalking and carrying the 

 spare rifles ; two more to coax the deer towards you, that is, 

 one on either flank, at vast distances ; and another to hold 

 the dogs. This is generally a sufficient force for the Forest 

 of Atholl ; but a fifth man would be useful in a west wind, 

 to leave at the mouths of the glens, and keep the deer from 

 going north, which they are apt to do at such a time. 



The Duke of Atholl and the shooting parties had all left 

 Blair, and the occupation of the forest was indulgently 

 given to the writer of these pages, accompanied with the 

 most pleasant of all commissions; namely, that of an 

 injunction to kill as many harts as possible, and to take 

 possession of Forest Lodge, the best situation for sport in 

 the whole domain. Captain Stewart of Murthly, an active 

 and skilful deer-stalker, had permission to take two or 

 three days' diversion from his quarters at Blair ; but, as 

 better sport might be expected in Glen Tilt, Tortoise took 

 the liberty of asking him to repair to Forest Lodge, and he 

 came accordingly, It was arranged over-night, that the 

 Captain should take the cast east of Glen Croinie, which had 

 not been disturbed for a long time, and that his friend should 

 occupy the ground on the west of it. 



The season for deer-shooting was now nearly terminated, 

 and the brightness of the autumnal days had suffered some 

 diminution. The sun withdraws its beams from the 

 secluded Glen of the Tilt early in the evening, and returns 

 only in partial gleams, till the day is spread in full splendour 

 on the summits. Thus the air there is dank and chill ; the 

 leaves soon fall from the old weather-beaten birches, and 

 here- arid there they already stood amongst the grey rocks, 

 in all the nakedness of winter. Some, in more sheltered 

 spots, perhaps, retained their leaves longer, half withered as 

 they were, and shivering in the bitterness of the blast. The 

 weather was soon expected to break up, and the silence of 

 the great waste to be followed by the howling of the storm 

 and the roaring of the cataract. 



It was in this dubious season that our sportsmen were 

 stationed in Glen Tilt : as they pass the night in the com- 

 fortable tent beds, the peats just expiring on the hearth- 

 stone, they hear, amid broken slumbers, the wind rushing 



