210 WILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS. [cumap. xxv. 
and I was enclosed in an atmosphere through which I could not 
see twenty yards. It was very cold too, and I was obliged to move, 
though scarcely well knowing whither. I followed the course 
of the lake, and afterwards of the stream which flowed from it, 
for some time. Now and then a grouse would rise close to me, 
and, flying a few yards, light again on a hillock, crowing and 
croaking at the intruder. The heron, in the darkness, came 
flapping his great wings close past me; I almost fancied I could 
feel the movement they caused intheair. Nothing could be done 
in such weather, and I was not sure that I might not be going away 
from my object. It was getting late too, and I made up my mind 
that my most prudent plan was to arrange a bivouac before it 
became quite dark. My wallet wasempty, except a few crumbs, 
the remains of my morning’s baking. It was necessary to pro- 
vide food : and just as the necessity occurred to me, I heard, 
through the mist, the call of a cock grouse as he lighted close 
tome. I contrived to get his head between me and the sky as 
he was strutting and croaking on a hillock close at hand; and 
aiming at where his body ought to be, I fired my rifle. On 
going up to the place, I found I had not only killed him, but 
also his mate, whom I had not seen. It was a commencement 
of good luck. Sitting down, I speedily ‘skinned my birds, and 
took them down to the burn to wash them before cooking. In 
crossing a sandy spot beside the burn, I came upon—could I 
believe my eyes ?—“ the Track.” Like Robinson Crusoe in the 
same circumstances, I started back; but was speedily at work 
taking my information. There were prints enough to show the 
hart had crossed at a walk leisurely. It must have been lately, 
for it was since the burn had returned to its natural, size, after 
the last night’s flood. But nothing could be done till morning, 
so I set about my cooking; and having after some time suc- 
ceeded in lighting a fire, while my grouse were slowly broiling, 
I pulled a quantity of heather, which I spread in a corner a 
little protected by an overhanging rock: I spread my plaid upon 
it, and over the plaid built another layer of heather. My supper 
ended, which was not epicurean, I crawled into my nest under 
my plaid, and was soon sound asleep. I cannot say that my 
slumbers were unbroken. I dreamt of the great stag thundering 
up.the hills with preternatural speed, and of noises like cannon 
