DEER-DRIVING IN MULL. 37 



trees, when full before me, and within a short distance of his 

 first escape, stood the Garrochree stag. Well aware that the 

 dogs were not after him, he was complacently watching the 

 hunt, and when he saw his territory fairly invaded, retreated 

 through his customary defile. I looked revengefully at his 

 exit, and hoped to come round him yet. With the exception 

 of these two deer, all our coverts were drawn blank ; and 

 after a hard day's work we returned to Glenforsa house 

 cheered, however, by a change of the wind. 



The customary rest-day was given to the pack, which we 

 devoted to the Glenforsa pheasants, killing the round dozen, 

 besides hares and rabbits. As the wind had continued steady, 

 we felt sure of deer next day, and in walking home were con- 

 certing the best mode of driving the covers, when the over- 

 seer met us with dejected mien. " The Ugly Buck has bolted 

 after his master to Scalastal," says he. " We cheated him a' 

 day that Dugald was here, but the naasty beast fan' us oot 

 and set after him." To supply the place of the truant, we 

 asked a day's driving from the shepherd who owned the old 

 dog already referred to, which was at once cheerfully given. 



Maclean and his collie walked up the avenue next morning 

 just such a study as would have charmed the eye and in- 

 spired the pencil of our late unrivalled Wilkie. He was a 

 tall, broad-shouldered, handsome young man, with black curly 

 hair streaming under the blue bonnet, a shepherd's crook in 

 his hand, and that peculiar shamble which proved at once that 

 the roads were his detestation and the hills his delight. His 

 dog, known as the best in Mull, would not have been tolerated 

 among the useless showy creatures that generally take first 

 prizes at dog exhibitions, for it required a thorough sports- 

 man to appreciate his points. Low in size and stiff in gait, 

 his limbs slightly curved, and his hair wiry at a passing 

 glance most people would have called him ugly ; but the broad 

 chest, the round firm foot, the breadth of the head between 

 the ears, and the exceeding intelligence and mildness of the 



