140 BIRD LIFE IN ENGLAND. 



while our working ground for the time would be on com- 

 paratively low-lying moorland. 



Breakfast over, myself and J climbed into the waiting 



dog-cart, in which guns with cartridges quantum suf. were 

 ready stowed away, and tucking in the comfortable rugs, for 

 an autumn morning in the Highlands before the sun is well 



over the hill-tops is none too warm, J picked up the 



ribbons, nicked the sleek-coated chestnut, and away we went 

 down the drive, our cigars aglow, and minds full of pleasant 

 anticipations. 



Half an hour's sharp trotting brought us to the beginning 

 of the long avenue which led to our entertainer's noble man- 

 sion. On arriving we had a hearty Highland welcome 

 from him and his assembled guests ; but the hour being 

 already somewhat late, the necessary introductions were 

 hurried over, and then we were soon following the head 

 keeper down a winding path into the valley below the 

 house. 



The morning was lovely, cold, and clear as could be 

 wished, while our " fighting line," winding through a deep 

 forest of firs, was really a picturesque sight. First went the 

 keeper in his national dress, a man of strength and stature, 

 and an awe to all the poachers far or near; then our host, 



P , discussing the merits of a new trout fly with an Assam 



tea planter, R , whose gun, carried over his shoulder, had 



recently been dealing out death and destruction to snipe 

 011 the plains of Northern India. On their heels came our 

 host's son talking to " Uncle P.," as he called that relative of 

 his, and two cousins, both in Athole tartans. These, myself, 



J , and one other young laird made up the party. We 



wound down the narrow path in single file, the occasional 

 gleams of sunshine breaking into the cool shade of the forest 

 to glitter 011 our gun barrels. We chatted and laughed 

 until, having dipped into a lovely glen, thick with amber 

 fern and silver birches, we crossed a rocky torrent bed, 

 scaled the opposite bank, and soon found ourselves by a 



