178 GROUSE SHOOTING. 



business-like plodding behind the dogs. With 

 breakfast over, and the cigars alight, the first 

 beat is arranged, and an hour's start given to 

 the two guns to get into their first position. 

 They stroll together unattended, with only a 

 retriever at their heels, not anxiously beating 

 for game, but with gun on shoulder, chatting 

 pleasantly, down by the side of the burn where 

 the water-ouzels flit. Then up a gully, by a 

 circuitous route to the crest of the gap be- 

 tween two hills. Here they take up their 

 places behind a rock, or a stack of peat, or 

 in a bog-hole, as much out of sight as pos- 

 sible, and about fifty yards below the crest 

 of the hill, so that the coming pack can- 

 not see the guns until over the crest, when 

 it is too late to turn. Arrived at the stands, 

 there is time for a ten minutes' rest before the 

 birds begin to come, so, after a thimbleful of 

 whisky, to prevent a chill, you throw yourself 

 upon the heather, and peering into it, watch 

 the multitude of living things as they come 

 and go through the miniature tangled forest. 

 One or two single birds fly over, offering fair 

 shots, the keeper's " Mark ! " comes faintly 



