AYTITTE-T AILED EAGLE. 
9 
storm was rapidly drawing nearer. While I was still undecided whether it would not be wiser to beat a retreat 
and make for some place of shelter for the night, we caught sight of the female Eagle flying along the face of 
the cliffs, and, after a single turn in front of the nest, she disappeared under the shadow of the overhanging 
rocks. I was well aware that it was impossible to reach the Lodge or even the nearest shoaling before the 
storm would break, as eight or ten miles of rough travelling lay before us, to say nothing of a burn, which, 
although crossed almost dry-footed in the morning, would, if the storm passed over its upper waters, be coming 
down in spate and quite impassable. Under these circumstances I thought I might as well endeavour to get 
a shot if possible before the darkness closed in. We had previously discovered a rough tract that ran down 
the face of the cliffs a short distance to the cast of the nest, and by following this to the bottom we should be 
enabled to gain a footing among some large stones about twenty yards below the ledge on which the eyrie was 
placed. Leaving the rest of the men and the baggage where we had lunched, Sandy (the head forester) and 
myself started at once for this spot, making the best of our way over the broken ground. A few drops of rain 
were commencing to fall as we reached the steepest part of the track ; here the rocks and stones were piled one 
above another in most fantastic disorder, and, being forced to crawl with the greatest caution, it took us several 
minutes to get over the last few yards. Just before we reached the bottom of the pass the full fury of the 
storm burst over us. It was now utterly impossible to advance further with any hopes of success ; the rain fell 
in blinding torrents, the lightning flashed incessantly, and the peals of thunder echoing back from hill to hill 
appeared like one continued roll. For a few minutes we attempted to shelter ourselves beneath an overhanging 
crag of rock ; then a sudden shift of wind carried the squalls of rain from an opposite quarter, and we retreated 
a short distance up the pass to a spot we had examined on our visit in the earlier part of the day. A terrier 
which had followed one of the keepers led to the discovery : his persistent barking and hunting among the 
slabs of stone induced his master to follow ; and at last he came upon a number of small caves, formed by the 
cracks and crevices of the fallen rocks. Some of the larger openings extended a considerable distance under- 
ground, all appearing to communicate with another below the surface ; and from the excitement shown by the 
dog, it was evident that this subterranean retreat was either a fox-cairn * or the den of a badger. Creeping 
on hands and knees I made my way cautiously into one of the larger caverns, while Sandy betook himself to 
another, a few yards further up the pass. Once past the entrance, which was somewhat contracted, the space 
was by no means confined ; and snugly ensconced on a bundle of dry grass and heather, which we had 
previously collected in case I had to wait for the birds, I felt decidedly thankful at having reached so secure a 
shelter. The storm, which had lulled for a few minutes, again broke out with increased violence, flash after 
flash lighting up the inmost recesses of my hiding-place. As the lightning appeared to play about the bright 
barrels of the gun, I imagined that such an efficient conductor would be safest at a distance ; so crawliim 
outside I withdrew the cartridges, and placed it under cover of the first stone I came to, and again retired 
towards my den. Just as I was returning a blaze of light, which illumined the whole scene for several seconds 
revealed the familiar features of Sandy peering from an opening among the rocks. The forester is as fine a 
looking Highlander as one would meet in a day’s march ; but he certainly presented a most spectral and 
uncanny appearance under the influence of the flickering gleams and the grim and rugged surroundings. 
Then retreating to the furthest corner of my quarters I spread out the rough litter, and making myself °as 
comfortable as circumstances permitted, I prepared to wait till the storm cleared off. Before long I became 
aware of a dull oppressive sensation in the atmosphere coupled with a faint unpleasant smell ; but° whether it 
was caused by dampness and the mildew collected on the stones, or was merely a slight reminiscence of the 
usual tenants of the establishment, I was unable to determine. Tired with the long day’s work and lulled by 
the distant rumble of the thunder, I soon fell asleep, and it was not till some hours after daybreak that I woke 
* A “ cairn ” usually signifies a heap of stones ; it is 
in which foxes rear their cubs. 
also frequently the name given by keepers and foresters in the Highlands to the earth 
