36 AUTUMNS ON THE SPEY. 



my position. My gun, on half-cock, had long 

 reposed in the hollow of my arm, and there it 

 still remained, as useless, under the circum- 

 stances, as a walking-stick. I will not venture to 

 assert that I felt no mortification at that moment, 

 nor when relating the incident to some of my 

 more successful brother sportsmen afterwards, hut 

 I can sincerely say that the disappointment was 

 more than compensated by the rich ornithological 

 treat I had the good fortune to enjoy. 



