PTARMIGAN-SHOOTING. 109 



Both sides of Ben Oss descend abruptly into rocky preci- 

 pices. They can only be ranged to advantage, therefore, by 

 keeping the crest of the hill, and inclining to either slope as 

 the skill of the shooter suggests. Of course the game is 

 easier found by the dogs on the windward side ; but as all 

 birds like shelter, a good and quick shot will get more, 

 though not such fair chances, by hunting chiefly to leeward. 

 On the present occasion a fair light breeze wafted along the 

 mountain-top, equally favouring both ridges. 



Carefully ranging the top, but always with a serpentine 

 course first to one ridge then across to the other, I had nearly 

 finished the search of the mountain from south to north ere I 

 was rewarded by the statuesque profile of the pointer on the 

 very summit of a crag, and at its base was the setter squatted 

 firm, evidently close to his game. The birds rose from some 

 rocks below the ridge, so when they darted over the precipice 

 the chance was quick and difficult. One fell to the first shot, 

 but the second was nearly out of reach. The pack only con- 

 tained four; but as the remaining three skimmed round the 

 northern bend of the hill into lower and smoother ground, I 

 had little doubt of recovering them again. 



On the flat where I had calculated, the pointer at once 

 touched on the scent; but before he had time to settle, a 

 brace of ptarmigan rose wild, and took a straight course for 

 the adjoining mountain of Duchray. Confident of a shot at 

 the third, I ran forward to where they had taken wing, but 

 was again balked, for the setter came suddenly down wind on 

 the other side, and poked up the bird at the very spot I had 

 so hastily quitted ! It laboured, however, being evidently 

 touched by my second barrel in the preceding double shot ; 

 and, incapable of the daring flight of its companions, turned 

 back on Ben Oss, and slunk into a " gully " close at hand. 

 It was easily found sprung at my feet, and dropped dead 

 down the ravine. 



The sun was now slanting behind the western hills, and, 



