16 PLAN OF CAMPAIGN. 



lochs were scattered about the hollows, some glittering 

 in the sunshine, and others almost lost in shade beneath 

 the overhanging crags. On either side ran two parallel 

 straths or vales, named respectively " Strath Mohr" 

 and " Strathsbeallog" (the " great vale" and the "vale 

 of the hunter"), down the centres of which ran two 

 slightly winding rivers, presenting an appearance 

 somewhat like one of those huge skeletons which a 

 geologist loves to contemplate as he finds its outline in 

 the solid rock, the central river representing the 

 backbone slightly distorted, and the numerous tributary 

 burns its several ribs. Behind us lay the broad bosom 

 of the ocean, calm and smooth, interlapping with the 

 land in many a bay and estuary, and dotted with the 

 red sails of the herring-boats, which formed a bead-like 

 chain, running in festoons along the line of coast. 



With such a panorama laid out before us, we had 

 reached, before we were aware of it, the point at which 

 we were to descend, at once into the birch woods. 

 Here we paused, that Donald might explain to us the 

 tactics we should adopt. There were two woods, 

 separated by a glade about fifty yards in breadth, down 

 which leapt a mountain torrent, its banks too precipi- 

 tous and wide apart for even a deer to leap, save at one 

 spot, marked by a huge boulder-stone. Here, there- 

 fore, the deer would be sure to cross, if driven out in 

 that direction ; there was also a pass at the other end 

 of the wood, by which they were in the habit of taking 

 their departure if forced that way, though they natu- 

 rally avoided the open, and took to the second wood, if 

 possible. The plan therefore was, that while the two 

 gillies were beating the cover, we should occupy these 

 two spots with our guns. Withdrawing our balls, we 

 loaded with buckshot, as more suited to the game ; 



