DRIVING THE COVERS. ti 



report of a flanking gun changes their course, and 

 they wheel sharply and pass me within twenty yards 

 right and left. Down goes that doe ; the buck, only 

 wounded, quickly recovers, and follows the other in 

 line direct on the next ambush, whence presently 

 comes a double report, but with what effect I cannot 

 then say. Capercailzie are now passing freely ; I 

 have five shots and drop three, one of them a mag- 

 nificent cock. 



The beaters were now so close that I heard their 

 sticks rapping the trees, and, just as I was thinking 

 the cover had been beat out, an old roebuck sped from 

 cover across the open, venire d terre, being literally 

 FORCED out when slyly seeking to double back through 

 the beaters. I had a quick but clear shot and killed 

 him dead. 



The men now came up, and the game being 

 collected, we went on to the edge of the wood to 

 arrange about the next drive, the Laird saying that he 

 considered this a very successful beat. Ward, Leslie, 

 McKenzie, and Fred had five roe-deer (one of them 

 my wounded buck), and two capercailzie cocks. 

 The Squire and Major Duncan had chosen to walk 

 with the beaters, as they could then, of course, fire 

 at any kind of game : they had a great deal of shoot- 



R 



