68 AUTUMNS IN ARGYLESHIRE 



frost, and the wind was very nearly due north, 

 and the mist already nearly clear of the highest 

 tops of the hills. As we jogged off together 

 on our stout little Highland ponies, our hearts 

 were light and our hopes high. After we had 

 ridden about three miles my companion turned 

 off to the right across a ford of the river ; and 

 two miles farther on I found McHardy, the 

 stalker, and Rory, the forester, intently spying 

 with their glasses at something across the summit- 

 level loch, while their two ponies were feeding 

 by the wayside, and the gillies waiting beside 

 them. Not many words were wasted. As soon 

 as he saw me, McHardy motioned to me to get 

 off my pony, and strode off with my rifle under 

 his arm in the direction of the boat-house, ac- 

 companied by one of his myrmidons, after a 

 few Gaelic instructions to the others as to what 

 was to be done with the ponies should fortune 

 favour us. Had I had my present knowledge 

 of his habits I should have augured well from 

 his carrying the rifle, which he never conde- 

 scended to do unless pretty near the deer. But 

 it was not until we were in the boat and cross- 

 ing the water that he pointed out to me a rock, 

 not a mile off, where he had discovered a good 

 stag, with some hinds and small beasts, with- 

 out even leaving the road to go to the usual 

 spying place. We had not had the usual delay 

 and annoyance of having to bale and launch a 



