THE MANAGEMENT OF DEER FORESTS 91 



of pursuing-the red deer in the wilds of Atholl Forest, 

 and knowing that in all probability, when I grew up to 

 manhood, I should have the opportunity of enjoying 

 the sport for which even at that early age my heart 

 yearned, I pored over the pages of my favourite 

 author, and of all the various descriptions of forest life 

 and of stalking with which they teemed, better than 

 the legends, the poetry, or the anecdotes, I loved to 

 read and re-read Chapters VII. and IX. of that work. 

 Both of these chapters give an account of a deer 

 drive in (Hen Tilt ; and so well is it told, so thrilling 

 was the interest which I felt in the adventures of 

 Tortoise and Lightfoot, as well as in the splendid 

 performances of Tarff, Derig and Shuloch, that at 

 this day, and with the experience acquired during 

 many years of managing forests, I can hardly bring 

 myself to criticise the proceedings which I then 

 looked upon not only as quite proper but almost 

 sublime. 



The drive described in Chapter VII. probably 

 embraced a very large tract of country, perhaps half 

 of the whole forest of Atholl. The rifles seemed to 

 have been posted, not only in front but on the flanks 

 of the drive, as well as with the advancing line of 

 beaters. One of the latter party (Scrope himself) 

 did some business on his own account, wounding the 



