LEAVES FROM A GAME BOOK. 81 



and try if we cannot persuade them to stay and dine 

 with us and take a bed at Corrour." 



Accordingly, on hospitable thoughts intent, we struck 

 off to the left, and in a short time we were within a mile 

 of the two shooters, who were getting plenty of sport, as 

 shots were very frequent. Then we again took another 

 spy and became somewhat puzzled, for we saw there 

 was no keeper with them, and yet it seemed impossible 

 that a couple of poachers would be so daring as to come 

 and shoot grouse over dogs in broad daylight and within 

 hearing of the Lodge. However, our suspicions were 

 raised, and from this moment we proceeded to stalk the 

 shooters, and so well did we do it that neither of them 

 became aware of us until we were within thirty yards of 

 them, when, lo and behold ! we found ourselves face to 

 face with Lucy's butler (not the one of the rat story) and 

 Paget's valet. 



My host kept his temper admirably, and telling the 

 culprits to take up the dogs and follow us home, we left 

 them looking very crestfallen. . The next morning, in 

 what Lucy called the " sweating room," each got pretty 



