MORE ABOUT GAME-BIRDS. 89 



and broke off again in all directions. I passed 

 three or four years in the district before being 

 able to make straight for any given point. 



Those who then lived there had very little to do 

 with the outside world. A strange face found little 

 favour in their eyes; in fact their general bearing, 

 although not absolutely rude, bordered very closely 

 on it, bidding you plainly keep your distance and 

 they would keep theirs. 



It would have been easy to form an unjust idea 

 of their manner. They were not really of a surly 

 nature ; they were only putting into practice lessons 

 which the wild creatures had taught them of never 

 going near strange beings before knowing who and 

 what they were, and whether they meant mischief 

 or not. 



These men knew all the haunts of the black- 

 grouse ; where they were most likely to be found 

 at different times of the year, and when the seasons 

 changed. So sure were they about such matters 

 that frequently have they said to me, " You come on 

 along o' us; you'll see 'em there or thereabouts." 



Yes, I am up in the morning early. The moor 

 mists are "thick and low. Half of the firs on the 



