CHAP, v.] POACHING FOR DEER. 49 



In the eastern part of the Highlands and on the hills adjoin- 

 ing the Highland roads, the grand harvest of the poachers arises 

 from grouse, which are shipped by the steamers, and sent by the 

 coaches southwards, in numbers that are almost incredible. Before 

 the 12th of August, hundreds of grouse are shipped, to be ready 

 in London on the first day that they become legal food for her 

 Majesty's subjects. In these districts the poachers kill the deer 

 only for their amusement, or to repay the obliging blindness and 

 silence of shepherds and others. Many a fine stag is either shot 

 or killed by dogs during the winter season ; the proprietor, or 

 person who rents the forest, supposing that his paying half a 

 dozen watchers and foresters ensures the safety of his deer. 



" Indeed, his lordship has seven foresters," said a Highlander 

 to me ; '' but they are mostly old men, and not that fit for catch- 

 ing the likes of me ; besides which, if we leave the forest quiet 

 during the time his lordship 's down, they are not that over hard 

 on us ; nor are we sair on their deer either, for they are all ceevil 

 enough, except the head forester, who is an Englishman, and we 

 wouldna wish to get them to lose their bread by being turned 

 away on our account. So it 's not often we trouble the forest, 

 unless, maybe, we have a young dog to try, and we canna get a 

 run at a deer on the marches of the ground, where it would harm 

 no one." 



" And how do you manage not to be caught t" was my 

 question. 



" Why, we sleep at some shepherd's house or shealing ; and 

 if there is not ,one convenient, we lay out somewhere on the 

 ground, going to our sleeping-place after nightfall ; and so we 

 are ready to get at the deer by daylight ; and maybe we have 

 killed one and carried him off before the foresters have found out 

 that we are out." 



It is not so easy, however, for the poachers to kill deer undisco- 

 vered with dogs, as it is with the gun ; for in the event of the 

 greyhounds getting in chace of a young stag or a hind, they may 

 be led away to a great distance, and in the course of the run 

 move half the deer in the forest ; and there is no surer sign of 

 mischief being aHoat than seeing the deer passing over the hills 

 in a startled manner. No man, accustomed to them, can mistake 

 this sign of an enemy having disturbed them ; and one can judge 



