90 AUTUMNS IN ARGYLLSHIRE 



fifty from the buckthorn hedge which bounds the 

 field on the home side. Cautiously I slip back 

 and sneak along the hedge, but the wily old 

 bird has witnessed that manoeuvre before, and is 

 off, having either heard or seen me before my 

 stalk has proceeded very far. However, I shall 

 no doubt pursue him or one of his relations 

 with better success another day, so I regard his 

 flight with considerable equanimity and resume 

 my course along the road. 



A couple of unsuccessful shots have completely 

 destroyed my bottle-born confidence pray do not 

 be shocked, the bottle was empty, and a hundred 

 yards from my rifle barrel by the time that I 

 have covered about three miles and come up 

 with the dog-cart, where my "303 rifle is await- 

 ing me in charge of my sister, who has ex- 

 pressed a wish to accompany me on my stalk as 

 far as is possible without risk of putting off my 

 game, as she is anxious to see seals alive or dead 

 at closer quarters than she has hitherto suc- 

 ceeded in attaining. The other occupants of the 

 dog-cart are two incurable golfo-maniacs. One 

 of the miserable victims of this insidious com- 

 plaint claims my sympathy in deference to the 

 Fifth Commandment. He is not yet in the 

 acute or solitary stage which drives a man to 

 dig divots from his carpet with a mashie, and 

 break his furniture with (so-called) captive golf- 

 balls, but his behaviour in the presence of 



