108 DEER-STALKING. 



of events, and who can say for certain that he is so 

 utterly wrong ? 



Few Highlanders will stay quite alone for many 

 nights in a retired and outlying shooting-lodge : ghosts 

 will appear, and if they do not, doors will open and shut 

 of their own accord ; bells will ring without hands to 

 pull the bell-rope. I can quite fancy, after a week all 

 alone and not a soul to speak to, and not a neighbour 

 within ten miles, the imagination might easily play 

 tricks with the senses ; draughts and winds will open 

 and shut the doors ; rats on the wires will set the bells 

 ringing. The caretaker strikes work, and really I think 

 he is right. 



In spite of the retired and solitary life many of the 

 Highland foresters lead, he is usually well-informed, 

 and taking an interest in the topics of the day, he is a 

 conversable and pleasant companion, and whether you 

 be duke or commoner, a Mr. Longpurse or a Mr. Short- 

 purse, he will spare himself no pains or trouble, and 

 take every precaution to give sport and get shots. 

 Willing to explain before setting out on a stalk the 

 movements he intends taking. If he sees you are 

 keen to learn, and show a warm interest, he is also 

 willing to impart as much as he can of his craft in a 

 short time. 



Keenly observant, generally a good judge of the 

 character of the gentleman he is with, and a great 

 admirer of a " good plucked one," he is a favourite with 

 all. He will occasionally make remarks which if uttered 

 by Mr. Velveteens in a Norfolk turnip-field would be 

 downright rude, and treated at once as such not that 



