196 AUTUMNS IN ARGYLESHIRE 



we ought to have some flesh meat to take home, 

 and that, as it appeared to be hopeless to find 

 grouse, mutton should serve our turn for the 

 nonce. But see to-day he has turned to stone 

 about a hundred and fifty yards off, and my 

 companion cocks his gun and quickens his pace. 

 I warn him not to hurry, that it is always better 

 to go slow up to a point a counsel of perfec- 

 tion which he hears but does not obey ; and 

 while my judgment condemns, my heart rather 

 approves, for is he not young lucky fellow ! 

 and this the first point of the season? I have 

 a pretty good notion what Rake has found in 

 that rushy bit, and if I am right there is no 

 hurry. 



We get close up to the dog before any- 

 thing moves, and have to force him forward, 

 so near is he to the game ; then there is a 

 whirr of wings, and, just as the warning 

 "'Ware hen" breaks from my lips, there is a 

 report and a fall, and the laws of the country 

 and of sport are outraged by the destruction of 

 a well-grown young grey hen. Alas for the be- 

 ginning of the season ! Yet, let those who have 

 never committed a similar mistake first cast 

 a stone at my companion, who is profuse 

 in his apologies, and sees the old hen and 

 seven other young birds fly off almost in suc- 

 cession, presenting the most tantalising marks. 

 Next, two or three snipe rise one after another, 



