A Sportsman at Large 123 



gesticulating and tearing their hair like a couple of maniacs. 

 Even at that distance I could hear their uncomplimentary 

 remarks. " Wee Sassenach fule " being the mildest of the 

 objurgations which they heaped upon my devoted head. 



But how was I to distinguish between the two contingents, 

 or to guess that the genuine lot would approach from my rear? 



Thinking it over afterwards, I came to the conclusion that 

 Grant was the real villain of the piece and that his own calcu- 

 lations had been upset, otherwise, why place me as he did ? 



This proved the beginning and the end of my deer-stalking 

 experiences. I have yet to set foot on the prone form of the 

 monarch of the glen. 



It strikes me that my case was almost as sad as that of the 

 gallant Count Fontainbleu, an enthusiastic Gallic sportsman 

 who was invited by the owner of a prolific deer-forest (whom 

 we will call Lord Gralloch) to try his hand and skill at stalking. 



Overnight, the noble host, after dinner, and when the wine 

 was going round and cigars were aglow ; called in Ronald 

 Macalister, his very superior stalker, and thus addressed him : 



"It is my infernal luck, Ronald, that I should sprain my 

 ankle, just as the Count here arrives : but you must take him 

 out over the best ground and see that he has a fair chance." 



" Oo ay ! " 



" Ah, my friend," put in the Count. " It is zure I am zat ze 

 good MacTaveesh " 



" Ma name's no MacTavish, ye ken ! " This from the deer 

 stalker. 



" Ah, zat vas all a right, Mac. I call you MacTaveesh 

 because eet zounds so so vat you zay ? So Scottie ! " 



Next day all was ready for a start, with Macalister garbed 

 and accoutred for the fray. 



The genial son of La Belle France slapped him on the back, 

 exclaiming : 



" Zy foot ees on zy native 'eath, zy name's MacTaveesh ! " 



" Ma name's no MacTavish ! " reiterated the stalker. 



In the evening, when the Count returned to the castle, he 

 was beat to a frazzle and fed up with life in general and deer 

 stalking in particular devil a stag had he seen all day. 



His lordship could not make it out. Day after day the same 



