ROMEO AND JULIET, ETC. 207 



river ; and every now and again a salmon would be 

 caught newly run from the sea, and as fair and 

 shapely as a summer fish. 



Grouse for some time had been packed (that is, 

 having broken up their family coveys, they associate 

 together in large crowds, or packs, of from fifty to 

 one hundred or more), and when so congregated they 

 become wild and wary, and are only to be got at by 

 stalking them cautiously from behind rocks or knolls, 

 or by an unseen approach along some ditch or gulley, 

 and by having them driven past where the sportsmen 

 are concealed. Yet there is always a sprinkling 

 of birds that do not pack, especially old cock 

 grouse. 



We could always get some shots on the rough 

 rocky braes near the lodge, or amongst the " heights 

 and hows " of Corrigan, and the dry shaggy clumps 

 at the black moss ; thus, by walking singly, and 

 coming warily round corners, and over abrupt risings 

 on the moors, we had given the packs many a 

 surprise, and considerably circumvented and thinned 

 out the astute old cocks. All of us liked this sort 

 of wild shooting, when moderately successful, quite 

 as much, if not more, than the easier work of the 

 early season; besides, when the weather becomes 



