212 THE MOOR AND THE LOCH. 



and heath drying fast. Still another pack rose wild, and dogs 

 beginning to look unhappy. Turned into the sunny side of 

 the hill, where the raised packs had preceded me. Dogs 

 ranging, free and true, but my first flying as well as running 

 shot was fired without their aid. A fine pack rose at my feet, 

 and I killed one, knocking feathers out of another with my 

 second barrel one of the few escapes of the day. First bird 

 in the bag at half-past eleven. 



The red Irishman now settled to a point, beautifully backed 

 by the Saxon bitch. A fine chance, and slew my brace. The 

 next pack, found by old Juno, rose sharp, but I got my couple 

 of birds again. The canine, working with spirit, and support- 

 ing each other well, made no mistakes ; and although much 

 of the game rose provokingly wild, they procured me some 

 excellent chances, and we met the gillie and relay of dogs 

 with nine brace of fine full-grown birds. 



The Glenmore valley cuts right through the farther hills of 

 Bute. Hitherto I had kept to the north end, having parcelled 

 out the southern division for the evening sport. Before cross- 

 ing to the fresh range, I gave the ridge and sheltered face of 

 the hunted hill a trial with the fresh dogs for broken birds. 

 If a beat for scattered game has been judiciously chosen, and 

 the shooter humours it by a series of circles and dttours with 

 the aid of trustworthy dogs, the bag rapidly and pleasantly fills. 



When a young and impatient grouse-shooter, I had a useful 

 lesson on scattered birds, which has often since encouraged me 

 to perseverance and helped me to success. On that day, many 

 years ago, I had reserved my best dogs for the evening, and 

 after some successful morning shooting on the hill-top, had 

 broken and scattered some fine packs. Most of the birds had 

 topped the ridge slanting downwards, and I felt certain of 

 heavy shooting whenever I had sufficiently worked the higher 

 peaks. The steep ground and warm sun had been severe, and 

 when I began to hunt for the scattered game, my dogs showed 

 signs of having done their work. Still they fought bravely 



