MARCH 95 



and the whole front of a light-coloured jacket being 

 deluged with gore, presenting a truly ghastly spectacle. 

 He was a well-nourished gentleman of florid complexion, 

 and it was a mighty relief to find that the whole of the 

 mess came from the puncture of a single shot in his rosy 

 cheek. Thank God it was not his eye, as it might have 

 been ; in which case I should not be recounting the in- 

 cident with so much levity. 



Tom Hogg was a typical south-country Scot, quietly 

 observant and ready with dry comment. His vocabulary 

 was occasionally ambiguous; as when he invited me one day 

 to subscribe to an Aperient Society. Now, like every other 

 M.P., I was inured to solicitation on behalf of every form 

 of recreation and many kinds of enterprise ; but the aim 

 and organisation of an Aperient Society baffled all conjec- 

 ture. ' That's surely a funny kind of society, Tom,' said 

 I; 'how does it work?' 'Oh, it's just a club o' bee- 

 keepers,' he replied ; ' we 're great at the honey hereaway, 

 ye ken.' I was enlightened at once, and willingly contri- 

 buted my mite to the Apiarian Society. 



Forty years ago, broad Scotland contained no more 

 hospitable roof-tree than that of Dunragit no inore 

 charming host than the gallant admiral who was laird 

 thereof. Visitors often came without notice, but never 

 without a genuine welcome, sure of a full share of all 

 that field or flood could provide. By ancient and pic- 

 turesque tenure the whole right of salmon-fishing in the 

 Water of Luce and its tributaries was vested in the lairds 

 of Dunragit, 1 from source to mouth, and beyond the 



1 Strictly speaking, I believe, in the lairds of Park, who were Com- 

 mendators of Glenluce Abbey ; but the families and estates of Park and 

 Dunragit coalesced. 



