A Sportsman at Large 259 



devil of a hurry, but never a word did he speak to me. As 

 soon as we had landed in Graeme's Hall Bay, he took to his 

 heels, and ran as fast as his legs would carry him to the Hall, 

 where, so I was afterwards told, he burst in upon the assembled 

 company, exclaiming fearfully : 



" Come down to the beach quickly ; Cockle has gone stark, 

 staring mad ! " 



Naturally, this put the wind up my other friends, who 

 post haste sallied forth in a body, followed by Bedford carrying 

 a hank of rope; as Henry George had suggested that my 

 malady might be of so violent a nature that I should require 

 restraint. 



I think it was a terrible disappointment to all when they 

 met me half-way, strolling unconcernedly towards them, 

 carrying my well-filled game bag over my shoulder. 



" What's the trouble ? " I asked, when they came up. 



" Trouble 1 " said my C.O. " Trouble enough ! Henry 

 George here told us that you had gone balmy ! " 



I turned upon the informer. 



" What on earth do you mean ? " I asked angrily. 



" Now, keep calm, Cockie," he soothingly said. " Don't 

 excite yourself ; you'll be all right to-morrow. I knew that 

 there was something wrong when I saw you floundering 

 round and round like a mad dog." 



Then the reason of his strange conduct suddenly dawned 

 upon me. He had mistaken my instructive gesticulations 

 for signs of maniacal fury, and when he saw me tripping 

 around those birds, the lid was on it with a vengeance. 



Even to this day I am sure that he has his doubts as to 

 my sanity on the occasion in question. 



For many years past I had made a practice of collecting 

 birds for stuffing which had fallen to my own gun. An 

 expensive and a not altogether satisfactory hobby. 



The Orkneys are justly celebrated for their showing of 

 rare varieties. I had been told that even the Great Northern 

 Diver was to be found in the locality, so I determined to see 

 if I could procure one of these gorgeous birds. Therefore, 

 with Gunn and Henry George I set sail, one day, in the 

 Valhalla. 



17* 



