IV 



THE YEARS OF THE 

 PERSECUTION 



TT HAVE determined to keep my hands 



free from extermination. The marten and 



wild cat are not banished from the shaggy 



woods and rough braes of Sonnachan 



and Barbea." So the olden sportsman, who 



rented his first moor as far back as 1822, entered 



the strong protest of personal example against the 



ways of the new lessees who were invading the 



Highlands. 



One against a crowd of exterminators, with his 

 back against a rock on behalf of the native wild 

 creatures. And willing to be treated as an 

 eccentric for his whimsical forbearance. This 

 man died, and no one filled his place. Those 

 who laughed at him had it all their own way, 

 blighted the hills for which, not being to the 

 manner born, they had no natural or traditional 

 care and, generally, had their money's worth. 



Needs but to look around to see the type 

 the man of commercial instincts, who has rented 

 a moor late in life, and takes thither the maxims 



42 



