DEER-STALKING 67 



there are no such things as impossibilities, and 

 he simply marked on the ordnance map a spot 

 on the side of the hill of the required altitude 

 and situation. As the point selected was on 

 a very steep braeside, 500 feet above the river 

 and the road to Ullapool, it was not desirable 

 to excavate a very large site, and Sir John con- 

 tented himself with space for his house above, 

 constructing the stables, garden, and offices 500 

 feet below, with a beautiful winding road of three 

 miles with an easy gradient to connect the two 

 buildings, from the upper of which a stone could 

 almost be dropped upon the other. An unfailing 

 water supply, perfect sanitary arrangements, and 

 power for working machinery and making electric 

 light were provided by damming the burn above 

 and making a little lake close above the house, 

 just below the sanctuary in the heart of the forest 

 below the peaks of Ben Dearig and Ben Lear. 

 The high-road to Garve naturally divides the 

 forest into two beats, and when the wind is in 

 the right quarter, two " rifles " ride together 

 towards the forester's house, and find, if they 

 are in luck, that the stalkers and gillies who 

 have preceded them have spied a stag by the 

 time they reach their several destinations on 

 either side of the highway. 



The day contrasted favourably from the out- 

 set with the one previously described. The 

 morning was brisk, with just a touch of white 



