LEAVES FROM A GAME BOOK. 29 



they soon left Skye to seek fresh fields of operation 

 on the mainland. 



At the dinner-table that evening — where, by the way, 

 we guests first made the acquaintance of a " tappit hen," 

 a bottle of claret holding about five ordinary ones — it 

 was settled afresh that the arrangements previously made 

 should hold good, Lightfoot and myself being told ofi" to 

 go to the most distant beat in the forest. Six o'clock 

 next morning saw us both in the saddle, a fine specimen 

 of West Coast manhood leading the way, and, though 

 carrying both our rifles, he took us at a good trot along 

 a well-made track. Our guide, moreover, was adorned 

 with a profusion of long, curling, dark-red hair, which 

 presented a somewhat comical appearance as it flopped 

 up and down at each footfall of his pony. Conversation 

 with him was out of the question, as he had " no much 

 English," and during all that day " Goot morning, gentle- 

 men," " Goot evening, gentlemen," was the longest speech 

 he made us. 



It was a perfect stalking day, the light clear, with 

 the clouds high overhead moving gently to a steady 



