76 HAPPY. HUNTING-GROUNDS 



mass of ' boulders and tangle that it is not easy 

 either to make out or to approach them, while at 

 high water they shift their ground, and are swim- 

 ming about and fishing in the strong currents. On 

 this occasion first of ebb was due at about ten in the 

 morning, so we arranged to have a round of golf at 

 Machrins before proceeding to Ardskenish, where we 

 made certain of being able to find seals in an acces- 

 sible position. We drove down to the links in 

 the old buckboard, which was just the thing for 

 the job, as the road to Ardskenish was only a rough 

 farm track over grass, rock and swamp ; and the 

 carcase of a seal, if we proved successful, could be 

 stowed in the back of the machine without making 

 any mess which could not be obliterated with a little 

 hot water and a mop. 



On we jogged over the road, which runs nearly 

 due west till it bends towards the links, passing 

 through a long narrow strip of arable land bordered 

 by moor, moss, and loch. A large flock of black 

 game, most of them old cocks, were feeding on the 

 stubble on our right, and would have invited a drive 

 or a stalk if we had brought guns with us, and many 

 blue rock pigeons passed over our heads within shot 

 before we descended and outspanned by the first tee. 

 Campbell, our keeper, was commandeered to carry our 

 clubs. He was keen enough at all kinds of sport, and 

 what he did not know about woodcocks and their 

 haunts was not worth knowing, but golf was a game 

 he only tolerated. Once, piqued by his indifference, 

 I asked him whether he thought he could drive a ball, 

 and received the complacent answer that as he was 

 the local champion at shinty he had no doubt he could 



