nONALD McLEA Y 325 



and cheery greeting, which was not always his wont, 

 if the appearance of a stranger was not to his Hking, 

 and betokened a chance of some days of fruitless 

 toil. Nothing is more trying to a stalker than to have 

 to conduct a Southron greenhorn, whose very first 

 appearance and 'get-up' reveal the Cockney. Such 

 men often arrive at the hillside faultlessly attired, both 

 as regards the colour and fit of their clothes (the 

 latter often too perfectly fitting) ; but nothing pleases 

 the old stalker better than when he sees a guest, whom 

 he expects to be some time with on the hill, arrive in 

 old well-stained clothes, old shoes, and an air of general 

 disdain for anything new — all about him showing that 

 he is an old hand at the business. Not being a 

 millionaire, my clothes were, as a rule, very shady, 

 and several sizes too large for me, and my shoes well- 

 sprigged and worn ; and I have no doubt but that my 

 whole appearance told him that I could 'go,' and, 

 indeed, in those days I could, without bragging, walk 

 with anyone for a week. Alas ! I fear my ability to 

 do so now. 



Well, to make a long story short, we started for the 

 south glen of Rhidoroch ; and after an easy ascent of 

 about 700 feet we came to the first spying-post, and I 

 was glad to sit down, on such a hot morning as it was, 

 especially after polishing off an extra breakfast. After 

 a rest of about ten minutes, and a careful search of the 

 hill with our glasses, we could only make out a few 

 hinds, and these were of course right in our way to 

 our next chance of a spy ; and so we were forced to 

 make a much lonwr detour than would have been 

 otherwise necessary, in order to get a complete view 

 of the next corrie, where we expected to find a stag 



