98 DEER-STALKING. CH. XXVI. 



scattered birch thickets near the shealing ; and here 

 and there a pack of grouse rose, alighting again 

 before they h:i I flown a hundred yards, as if fully 

 understanding that grouse shooting was not the 

 order of the day, and, strutting along with their 

 necks stretched up, seemed to care little for my 

 presence. The ring-ousel flitted from rock to rock, 

 uttering its wild and sweet note. Truly there is 

 gi*eat enjoyment gained by the early riser ; every- 

 thing in nature has a pleasant aspect, and seems 

 happy and thankful to see the light of another sun. 

 The great mountain to the west looked magnificent 

 as its grey corries and cliffs were lighted up by the 

 morning rays. A noble pile of rock and heather is 

 that mountain, and well named Ben Mhor, or the 

 Big Mountain — not a triton amongst minnows, but 

 a triton amongst ti'itons. The golden eagle, to 

 add gi-andeur to the scene, was sweeping through 

 the sky high above me, and apparently eyeing my 

 canine companion with mingled curiosity and appe- 

 tite. Once or twice in his circles he came so near 

 that I was half inclined to send a rifle-ball at him, 

 but as often as I stopped my walk with tliis inten- 

 tion, the noble bird wheeled off" again, and at last, 

 remembering his breakfast hour was past, flew off" 

 in a straight line at a great height towards the loch 

 to the north of us, where he probably recollected 



