228 EXTRACTS FROM NOTE-BOOKS. CH. XXXIV. 



ous of all vermin. " Now then, Donald, take care, 

 and kill all you can," said I. " Deed ay," was 

 his answer, with a quiet chuckle. The next mo- 

 ment our four charges of shot were driving through 

 the midst of the crows, and such n family shot at 

 these cunning hirds was not often made, as we 

 killed or maimed no less than seven. But the next 

 instant, to our mortification, a magnificent white- 

 tailed eagle rose not twenty yards from us, out of 

 the bed of the river, where he had been feeding on 

 another drowned sheep which had grounded there. 

 He was so gorged that he could scarcely get clear 

 of the banks. After a few wheels, however, he got 

 well launched, and was soon wending his way towards 

 the cliffs of the mountain ahead of us. Donald 

 almost wept with vexation, but for my own part I 

 did not regret the escape of the noble bird so much. 

 Turning round a bend of the river, we came 

 within sight of our resting-place for the night, but 

 it was still a long distance off. On the left, rising 

 with a clear outline in the bright sky, was the lofty 

 mountain where we intended to try for ptarmigan. 

 The snow however looked so deep on it that we 

 began to think we might as well have stopped at 

 home. But I was very anxious to get a few birds 

 in their pure winter plumage, and determined not 

 to give in, if any chance of success offered itself. 



