MUSTARD AND PEPPER 285 



and that, therefore, if he could but find and cross the 

 third side, he must in time arrive — hungry and foot- 

 sore it might be, but what cared he for that ? — on the 

 bank of the brawHng Tarff, from which, without his 

 leave asked or given, he had been kidnapped. It is 

 pleasing to know that the Laird of Ardachie has 

 decided that in view of Mustard's evident wish, not to 

 say determination, to remain on the estate on which he 

 has been reared, on that estate he shall be cheerfully 

 granted a life-long right to occupy his old kennel 

 corner, and be supplied with as much food as is good 

 for him. 



Now to refer to the incident which has led to 

 Pepper having become the talk of the district. 

 Some four or five weeks ago the gamekeepers around 

 Fort Augustus engaged in their periodical attempt at 

 exterminating the hill foxes, which are not favourably 

 regarded by farmer or sportsman. Both Mustard 

 and Pepper were called to their aid, and in the 

 course ot a few days twenty-six foxes w^ere accounted 

 for. On the last day of the hunt (a Wednesday) five 

 were killed. From one of the cairns into which the 

 terriers were put, a dog-fox bolted. The keepers 

 thought they had located a cairn on the farm of 

 Cullachy as the one in which he took refuge, and the 

 party at once proceeded to it. The terriers were 

 immediately put in. Mustard did not long remain 

 inside, but no fox bolted, and hence it was supposed 

 there was no fox in that cairn. The Ardachie keeper 

 whistled to Pepper, who answered, but did not come 

 out. Everyone present being satisfied that there was 

 no fox in the cairn, all were anxious to move on. 

 Repeated efforts were made to get Pepper out, but 



