BENMORH LODGE. 19 



that will let you stretch your legs after the cars, and you may get 

 some meat for the pot. The Lodge is about two miles up, and you 

 can work in that general direction." 



I acquiesced, and declining the gun which one of the keepers offered 

 I had my box taken out and from it drew one of my own guns, 

 which was soon assembled, and I was ready for my first try at the 

 Scottish grouse. The Chief called "Sandy," a gray-haired and 

 stooped gillie, to go with me. 



The minute I stepped off the road I encountered one of those new 

 sensations so soon to be multiplied during my Highland visit. What 

 looked like firm grass land was real grass, with about two inches 

 of moss at its roots, and then from two to six inches of water. Chug, 

 chug, swish; not always over the shoe tops, but soon that and some- 

 times more. Of course, we were on the low ground, but I found 

 even the tops of many grass-grown hills had this mushy, marshy 

 formation not unlike the tundra one encounters in Alaska. 



The first grouse I found got up rather wildly and I lost him, and 

 another one or two. I was not in good form and I found the car- 

 tridges given me would not cause my automatic to function, because 

 with the recoil ring on they did not develop enough power. And so 

 splashing through an occasional burn, which meant nothing after my 

 feet and legs were wet, occasionally getting a shot and picking up a 

 few birds, the grouse being much like our own prairie chicken, only 

 more swift in flight, I came to the top of a hill, and looked down 

 upon the lights of Benmore Lodge, just kindled and twinkling welcome. 



Here I found my host already returned from his fishing. The 

 lodge, a long, low, comfortable building, made no pretensions to beauty, 

 but it lacked nothing necessary to comfort. Good beds, good baths, 

 spacious lounging room with an open peat fire, comfortable easy 

 chairs in plenty and well trained servants to supply all one might 

 require, were there. 



Dinner was at eight. I expected good plain camp fare, but I found 

 a well-appointed table, with spotless linen, good glass and china, 

 where the two of us were served by a butler in livery in a style 

 quite equal to that one could expect to encounter in town. Nor were 

 the dishes offered any whit less appetizing than one would order 

 with an unlimited purse and wholesale opportunities. 



