222 LEAVES FROM A GAME BOOK. 



at mid-day I steamed up to Glen Dubh and tried the 

 hill with Mackenzie, but the weather turning from bad 

 to worse, I had to come home well drenched without 

 getting a shot. On reaching Kyle Strome, which was 

 much lower-lying ground than that on which I had 

 been, I learned the weather had cleared sufficiently 

 after lunch to let Lawley go out and kill a splendidly 

 fat stag of 17 stone 5 lbs. 



On the day following, the 29th, the Duke, Thorburn 

 and I started in the More Vane in a perfect deluge 

 to return by sea to Lochmore, and, though there was 

 no wind, yet the long Atlantic swell made our craft roll 

 heavily. On the route we put in to Badcall, a desolate- 

 looking village, to leave various haunches and quarters 

 of venison ; and then steaming to Scourie, we again 

 landed with more venison and also to visit Mr. Mclver, 

 for many years the Duke of Sutherland's factor in these 

 parts; and a more remarkably handsome, distinguished- 

 looking old gentleman I never set eyes on. On quitting 

 Scourie, we passed round Handa Isle, where in the 

 nesting season such vast numbers of sea birds lay their 



