THE TWELFTH OF AUGUST. 161 



tell you an old cock grouse is not the easiest 

 shot in the world." 



"I knew you would soon find that out; but 

 1 wait awee ' till the birds get a month older, 

 and you will find grouse-shooting tight work, 

 as you must then shoot well, and walk well 

 too, for six or seven brace ; but such noble- 

 looking birds when in full feather ! Besides, in 

 wide ranging you get a pretty mixed bag, now 

 and then capped with a roedeer or some old black- 

 cock." 



" Oh ! I should like to kill a roe," Fred said. 



" Perhaps you may, Fred. They are scarce here, 

 but Major Duncan says they are numerous at 

 Dunesk, and if you have luck, you may get two 

 or three ; but it is not like grouse- shooting, for 

 often one of the guns has all the chances, and the 

 others get nothing." 



"I hope to be the lucky one. Where do we 

 go to-morrow, Major ? " 



" Not settled yet. Probably down the glen, along 

 the flats by the burn, and then the black moss, 

 and round this side of Corrigan hill, that should 

 do, eh, Abbott ? " 



" Just the plan. Two guns may be enough : no 



M 



