MY JOURNEY NORTH. 69 



given to borrowing rifles, and did not buy them like 

 guns, and with his usual anxiety to oblige his customers, 

 he had lent all the second-hand rifles he had. This did 

 not greatly surprise me, for out of the numbers that go 

 North every year, there are but few who stalk regularly ; 

 and like myself, every guest asked to shoot where there 

 are deer wants a rifle, and does not care to go to the 

 expense of purchasing a new one for a few shots, and 

 then perhaps for some seasons to come have no further 

 opportunities. I took the only one I could get, and 

 drove off with it, followed by many cautions to take 

 a few sighting shots before going out. That same night 

 saw me in the Limited Mail, a big cigar, a sound sleep, 

 one whiskey and soda at Carlisle, more sleep, Perth, a 

 wash and hearty breakfast, a change of trains, and a few 

 hours later I was in mortal combat with a very tough chop 

 in a Highland inn while the " machine " was being got 

 ready. A lovely drive of twenty miles, and four o'clock 

 that afternoon found me welcomed to a large and most 

 comfortable house, by as kind a hostess as ever bid 

 guest to cakes and ale. My host and his friends were 

 still on the hill, and as I sat by the open window of the 

 oak-panelled drawing-room, I could hear them popping 

 away in the distance. Indeed, it was somewhat a strain 

 on my politeness not to wish to be with them. Perhaps 

 my hostess half divined the thought, for she soon sug- 

 gested my trying the river before dinner, and further- 

 more, to inspire me, said that "Archie" (one of the 

 keepers) had that morning reported it in good order, 

 and plenty of fish up, although none had been caught 

 yet, for it was the first autumn spate. 



