176 A MYSTERY SOLVED. 



when poaching was not dealt with as stringently as it 

 now is, and when even the most honest scrupled not to 

 take an occasional buck or fat hind from the forest. 



"While sitting on the side of a mountain, in one of 

 the wildest and least frequented parts of the Highlands, 

 and occupied in carefully examining, through his 

 "Dollond," the ground about him, Gillespie discov- 

 ered an odd-looking object, enveloped in a grey plaid, 

 and sitting under a rock on the opposite side of the 

 glen. He presently made out that it was a woman, 

 occupied, as far as he could tell by the aid of his glass, 

 in knitting. As she appeared quite alone, and the spot 

 was one not frequently trod by the foot of woman, for 

 there was no human habitation within some miles, his 

 curiosity was aroused, and he resolved to watch her 

 proceedings, that he might learn, if possible, what 

 could be her motive in seeking such a wild and 

 solitary spot ; but though he kept his eye upon her for 

 two good hours, there she still sat without having once 

 moved from her position. In this way hour after hour 

 passed, and there she still sat. It was now afternoon 

 and still she was there. But at length the mystery 

 was solved. Along the bottom of the glen a man 

 appeared, driving a pony before him; halting as he 

 came just below the woman, he climbed up to her 

 position, and the two then commenced dragging down 

 the hill a large object, which Gillespie's instinct was 

 not long in recognizing as the carcase of a slaughtered 

 deer. It was soon strapped on the back of the pony, 

 and the worthy couple started down the glen with their 

 prize. 



It is a common practice with poachers to leave their 

 booty concealed in some snug spot among the hills, 

 until they have a convenient opportunity for fetching 



