ATHOLL POACHEKS. 267 



former days was D S . * He resided in the 



district, 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 O , 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, and 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 to- 

 wards tli em at full speed. They immediately took to 

 flight, but having their guns and other encumbrances with 

 them, whilst their pursuers were empty handed, they lost 



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

 partly suppressed, according to promise. 



f I am hot quite clear as to the accuracy of this name, being unac- 

 quainted with the place myself. 



