198 AUTUMNS IN AKGYLESHIRE 



the keeper casts a reproachful glance at me, 

 as I never fire my gun at the magnificent birds, 

 and rejoice at the laird's orders that they should 

 not be trapped. Inveterate poachers they are, 

 no doubt but what a beautiful thing is the 

 swoop of a wild peregrine ! Perhaps I shall see 

 my friend himself later on. By one o'clock we 

 stop at a lovely little spring, coming straight 

 out of the side of the hill, and stretch our limbs 

 and inspect the bag while our luncheon is being 

 unpacked. There are eleven brace of grouse 

 counting the grey hen, which must masquerade 

 under that title, and an old blackcock whose 

 illegal slaughter must, I fear, be attributed not 

 to accident, but design four snipe and a hare. 

 Altogether a fair morning's work ; for I usually 

 calculate on the afternoon bag doubling that of 

 the morning the birds are easier to find, and 

 the evening is the best time for shooting. There 

 let them cool while we discuss our lunch and 

 the best pipe of the day. 



Half-an-hour or perhaps three-quarters ! sees 

 us once more on the move, and here we are 

 on some of our best ground, just above Loch 

 Leachan a fair-sized loch, with a curious little 

 stone island near its middle. It is very calm 

 just now, and although it is some distance off, 

 we can see a flock of duck near the reeds, and 

 the circles made by the rising trout. Here we 

 pick up a good many birds, and spare one or 



