96 SHOOTING THE HARE 



pretty numerous, must be placed in position in a wide 

 ring around the top of the mountain, or, at the least, 

 along the upper part of one face thereof. A calm, 

 clear day is therefore necessary, and settled weather 

 is a sine qua non, or else, just as the drive begins, 

 some envious cloud may settle over the hill, and 

 by its impenetrable mist destroy all chance of sport. 

 The best period to choose is one when the wind 

 has been blowing steadily from one quarter for some 

 days. It will be found that all the hares have deserted 

 the exposed sides of the hills, and are congregated on 

 the leeward faces and in the more sheltered corries. 

 The sportsmen can thus, without disturbing the 

 ground, ascend the hill upon the windward side, and 

 get quietly into their stations without moving the hares, 

 that are mostly upon the opposite face of the hill, 

 and, crossing the top or shoulders of the ground, can 

 form a line covering the whole top of the hill from the 

 leeward side. 



A weary climb brings us at length to the summit, 

 over which we have to pass in order to gain our 

 station on the further side ; but, however intent on 

 sport we may be, we cannot but pause to take in 

 the beauty of the scene that is spread out before us on 

 a glorious morning in the latter part of October. Be 

 the spot where it may, in the Highlands of Scotland 



