108 THE MOOR AND THE LOCH. 



hap to mark it ; while the remaining one, flying high in a 

 contrary direction, was of course given up. Having made 

 out the exact group of rocks where the disabled bird had 

 sought shelter, I coupled the dogs and set off down the steep. 

 On the very brink of a crag, and beautifully placed for a 

 sitting chance, I soon perceived a round grey ball. It was, 

 however, so precisely similar to many of the small stones 

 dotted about, that until the breeze ruffled a feather I could 

 not make certain of my game. At once aware that if the 

 bird was able to rise, it would dodge over the rocks without 

 giving time even for a snap, I made all safe by a still poking 

 shot. 



By the downward course of the last-bagged birds, I again 

 found myself below the rocky steeps of the mountain-face, but, 

 being still pretty fresh, was tempted to try for new game on 

 Ben Oss, instead of re-scaling Ben Loy after the remains of 

 the scattered pack. The day was wearing on ; having, how- 

 ever, two brace in the bag, I sat down by a spring, and 

 shared my crust with the dogs in calm content. 



Ben Oss, which, although fully as steep and rugged, is not 

 nearly so high as Ben Loy, always harbours a pack or two of 

 white grouse, where, from the nature and lie of the rocks, 

 they are both more easily found and followed. 



In order to spare my dogs unnecessary fatigue, I kept them 

 on the couple until well into the ptarmigan feeding-ground ; 

 but just when I had gained the southern ridge of the moun- 

 tain, and was about to commence the range, two beings came 

 suddenly into view, so ludicrously out of keeping with the 

 savage scene that the very dogs stared at them with wonder. 

 There they were in bright scarlet, working amidst the desola- 

 tion with their instruments at the Government survey. When, 

 in reply to my query whether they had seen any ptarmigan, 

 the Garibaldi apparition-, with a decided Berkshire accent, de- 

 scribed a large pack of grouse which they had " flushed among 

 the 'eath," I turned sharply round, and was off in a moment. 



