3'22 



CHAP. XII. 



" Farewell to the Highlands, farewell to the north, 

 The birthplace of valour, the country of worth : 

 Wherever I wander, wherever I rove, 

 The hills of the Highlands for ever I love." 



A. MACDONALD. 



I HAVE elsewhere observed, that I have forborne to re- 

 count my most successful days on the hills, as not always 

 being fraught with any very marked interest; I now, 

 however, proceed to relate the events of one auspicious 

 day, which, as it was my last, so it was, perhaps, my best. 

 It will prove that the method of stalking deer in quick 

 time, where the forest is sufficiently extensive to admit of 

 such sport, is frequently accompanied by the most abundant 

 results. Three or four skilful attendants you must have 

 for this 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 



