12 HAPPY HUNTING-GROUNDS 



on the same day they saw, but did not get, your 

 cripple. The Buccleuchs and ourselves went to Inver- 

 mark on Tuesday, and on Wednesday the Duke stalked 

 in the South Forest, and Sir T. M. and myself in the 

 North. The Duke had a good chance, but missed. 

 We also came upon a herd of stags about eleven 

 o'clock. I got the first shot and killed a good stag, 

 fourteen or fifteen stone, shooting him through the 

 heart, and breaking both fore-legs. Sir T. M. had 

 two shots at the same time, and two afterwards, and 

 as we thought without success. Since then old Ross 

 and Mr. Forbes (Newe) have been there and have 

 killed two or three more stags. 



" I heard of your splendid sport at Murthly, the 

 best I think I ever knew anyone have there. 1 It was 

 a great achievement, and you must be very proud of 

 it. We have had little shooting since you left : a 

 few brace of grouse ; and we have brought our slain 

 partridges up to one hundred brace. The weather has 

 been wet and stormy, but with intervening days very 

 fine. We feel the break-up of our large and pleasant 

 party very much. 



" I infer from Hartington's speech that there are 

 decided breakers ahead about the Irish Land Bill. 

 Ever yours, very sincerely, CAIRNS." 



Another very happy hunting-ground where I was 

 a frequent visitor at a later period was Braemore, the 

 beautiful Ross-shire home of Sir John Fowler, the great 

 engineer. The natural surroundings were of match- 



1 Diary of Gathorne Hardy, Sept. 24, 1869. " My last day at Murthly 

 was spent ' harling ' alone, and my success was extraordinary and almost 

 unparalleled there, as I killed 2 salmon and 8 grilse. The largest 19, 

 the second 12, and the grilse varying from 10 to 6. I did not lose one." 



