94 AUTUMNS ON THE SPEY. 



"Bad luck, that, McKay," said I, scarcely able 

 to restrain the bitterness of my feelings. I could 

 see that my companion fully shared them, and 

 that this second misfortune was too much for his 

 stoicism, for among the mysterious sounds issuing 

 from his mouth, as he slowly inserted a con- 

 solatory quid of tobacco within its precincts, I 

 could occasionally detect an imprecation on the 

 head of the " doom'd corbie " that had spoiled 

 our sport and robbed us of the finest stag in the 

 forest. 



