28 THE MOOR AND THE LOCH. 



pursuit by a dog only tires him and scares the deer farther 

 away. As soon, therefore, as the quarry before them are past 

 the rifles, the dogs should be called back into the covert to 

 find a fresh track. Often a stray hart or hind turns back by 

 facing the drivers, and remains quietly hid until the wood is 

 searched a second time. An old Mull collie, which once aided 

 our drive, was so knowing, that of his own accord he returned 

 to his master whenever the deer had escaped the shooters. 

 This sagacious creature knew every ambush guarding the 

 wood, and as soon as the deer were out of danger, quite 

 comprehended that it was useless to follow where there were 

 no rifles to kill. 



Our cover pack consisted of two pure-bred Mull collies, and 

 a mongrel sheep-dog, which looked like a cross between the 

 old Scotch cur and a jackal. The island pair were mis- 

 named Trim and Yarrow by their Tweedside master (my farm- 

 grieve), but the nondescript was more aptly styled the " Ugly 

 Buck." He was a cross-grained, eccentric, unsociable, surly 

 brute had to have his teeth broken for biting the sheep- 

 would follow or obey no one but his shepherd-master, and 

 when fairly " blooded " at deer, considered himself discharged 

 from the meaner duties of sheep. Although Trim and Yarrow 

 had good noses, and stuck well to their track, yet somehow I 

 always felt most certain of a shot when the covert rang with 

 the wolf-like howl of the Ugly Buck. 



The day after my landing in Mull was pouring rain, but the 

 following brightened up again. Scarcely expecting above one 

 chance, I only put four bullets in my pocket, and took a single- 

 barrel seal-rifle, which fitted me exactly. 



The manager, his two Mull shepherds, and their three dogs, 

 were sent to the far end of the Knock plantation, while I 

 guarded the Knock pass, and my son watched the other escape 

 to Torlochan wood. The dogs had hardly been thrown into 

 covert when they opened full cry. I distinctly heard the 

 hunt begin at the north end, and gradually near the south of 



