252 WILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS. [CHAP. xxxn. 



had determined on, but his enjoyment was somewhat damped by 

 my not having sent both barrels into the middle of the hinds. 

 " Aiblins your honour would have tuk down twa or three at each 

 shot, and the brutes will all be off our march in an hour's time. 

 Lord, Sir, if I had only been where your honour was, with the 

 dooble-barrel loaded with swan-post, I'd hae rattled it about their 

 lugs; I fairly suspect I'd have put down half-a-dizen." I con- 

 soled Donald with a dram, and we set to work to prepare our stag 

 for taking home, which, with the help of a shepherd's pony, we 

 succeeded in doing before night. 



Donald, though, professedly, he cared for neither wind nor 

 weather, was in bed all the next day, from what he called rheu- 

 matiz, but what I called whisky toddy, taken to counteract any 

 bad effects of his cold bivouac ; for my own part, I did not feel 

 at all the worse for our cool couch, and was quite ready to renew 

 the campaign. 



