LAST DAY'S SHOOTING. 287 



larly fond, were growing all around in great abundance. 

 Delighted with our new discovery, we determined to 

 investigate this land of promise closely, and our expec- 

 tations, though excited by the appearance of this 

 beautiful glen, were amply realised. We found the pack 

 that escaped us in the low grounds, and they paid dearly 

 for the long walk they had given us in the pursuit. The 

 valley produced two other broods ; and soon, after some 

 hours of capital shooting, we found our game bags, 

 when we left the glen, increased by twenty-three of the 

 finest birds I ever saw. We might have thinned the 

 packs still more, but my kinsman was anxious to leave 

 this secret valley with a sufficient stock, to render it 

 a sure resource when grouse could not be otherwise 

 obtained. This was indeed a good wind-up to our 

 highland-shooting : and as we sprang several scattered 

 birds during our return, we decided that this was our 

 best day throughout the season, and worthy of the 

 brightest page of the game-book, in which all our failures 

 and successes were duly and faithfully chronicled 

 since we took to the hills. 



A curious incident supplied us with an excellent 

 white fish. The servant who brought the post-bag, 

 when in the act of crossing the river, which, in his 

 route from the Lodge, he was obliged to do repeatedly, 

 most unexpectedly encountered a large otter carrying 

 off a salmon he had just seized. The postman attacked 

 the poacher vigorously, who, dropping his prey, glided 

 off into the deep water at the tail of the ford. The 

 spoil proved to be a fresh salmon not twenty hours from 

 the sea, and consequently in prime condition. The 

 otter showed himself the best artist of the day ; for while 

 the Colonel and his companion returned with empty 



