194 AUTUMNS IN AKGYLESHIRE 



much farther to go, for here is Stroneska farm, 

 where dogs and keepers are waiting for us. 

 Altogether there are eight dogs six pointers 

 and two setters ; but two of the pointers are 

 only young ones in their first season, brought 

 out more for the benefit of their education 

 than to help the sport. In addition to the 

 head-keeper, and the one to whose beat the 

 ground belongs, there are two gillies, one of 

 whom bears on his back an enormous pannier, 

 capable of holding some thirty brace of grouse, 

 and no light weight, if, as occasionally happens, 

 it is filled at the close of the day. It is the 

 theory of the laird that ponies cannot be taken 

 over the ground, and there is no doubt that 

 there are many excessively boggy hollows and 

 awkward dykes ; but I confess to being scepti- 

 cal as to the alleged impossibility, having seen 

 much of the instinctive capacity of a well-trained 

 Highland pony for finding its way across diffi- 

 cult country. However, the gillies do not have 

 a hard time of it. Their duty is to keep out of 

 sight of us, but within sound of a whistle, in 

 case fresh dogs or cartridges are wanted, and 

 most of their time is spent in lounging about 

 until the end of the day's sport, when the 

 hamper has to be taken down to the dog- 

 cart. Then it is a sight to see how a tall 

 Highlander can step out in spite of the weight 

 on his shoulders ; but your West Coast man is 



