REMINISCENCES OF A ROSS-SHIRE FOREST. 149 



off from his " 'appy home at Maidar 'ill or 'ighbmy," 

 and stuck up at the snuff-shop door a warning to 

 all ignorant tourists of advanced principles. 



But we have wasted too much time over these 

 gentlemen. Let us travel up to Ross-shire again, 

 and do a little business together in a sportsmanlike 

 way. Come on, " Scotus," and " Spectator " ; . step 

 out and see the fun ; leave your venom and ignor- 

 ance behind. Highland gillies are grand weight- 

 carriers, but a camel himself would shy at such a 

 cargo. 



My first day's stalking last year was in the beauti- 

 ful forest of , not far from where they riot of a 



Sunday. I knew nothing of the ground, and nothing 

 of the men who were with me the head forester 

 and a young gillie, named respectively Murdoch and 

 John. It was my first appearance in that part of 

 Ross-shire. "NVe had a long tiring walk before seeing 

 anything, then we came on a good stag ; but, to my 

 disgust, I was told he was over the march. "He 

 seems a real good beast that, Murdoch," I remarked ; 

 " I should like to see more of him ; " and forthwith, 

 getting hold of a large stone, I sent it rolling down 

 the hill. ~\Ve rolled down stone after stone some 

 of them started by young John being of tremendous 

 dimensions ; but beyond raising his head now and 

 then, the stag took no notice whatever. This is not 

 so surprising as at first sight it may seem. Rocks 

 are constantly rolling down the hillsides, especially 



