by experience, we had no more importations from Edinburgh in the cook line.

Good fellowship at Brawl is the more necessary, because you will find no society in the neighbourhood. Halkirk, though a postal district, is apparently so little known by the post-office authorities that our letters were frequently delayed by being sent to Falkirk in the first instance, and the village postmaster's topographical knowledge was so obscure, that on one occasion, when desiring a postage stamp for a letter directed to Southampton, he gravely informed me that a penny was not sufficient to prepay a letter to that town, because it was in foreign parts!

Halkirk is occupied by the proprietors of small holdings, who live in humble cottages amidst which the rival manses cut a commanding figure. Neither the Established nor Free Kirk minister called on us, and I believe that both, certainly one, held us in great dread. Not perhaps unreasonably; for some previous occupants of Brawl during the shooting season had amused themselves, as we heard, firing at the Established Church minister's chimney pots with their rifles. One chimney was certainly potless, and the pots on the other chimneys exhibited signs of having been hit. Now, as this minister has followed the example of the good Vicar of Wakefield, by marrying and making the world a present of sons and daughters, we can appreciate his anxiety

THE MINISTER'S DAUGHTERS.

71

with respect to the annual occupants of Brawl; and it will be admitted that six sportsmen are not precisely the individuals that a Scotch minister would choose as companions for his daughters.

CHAP. VIII.

Preparations for Grouse Shooting.- Examination of Guns. - Breech Loaders.-The Kennel.- Gillies, past and present.- Female Gillies. -How to strike a Bargain,-Morality of Gillies.-A Set of Gillies.Aphra Behn on "Hielandmen."-Hiring a Pony.-The Dawn of the 12th August.-A plentiful Breakfast. — Drinking Preparations.Tea versus Whisky.-The Start.-Dale Moor.-The Day's Shooting. Caithness Grouse. - Bog-holes. -Plague of Midges. - Rout of a Persian Army.-Vast Extent of the Moors.-Heather Ale.-How a Secret was kept. - Decoction of Heather Flowers. - The Day's Bag.-How to pack Grouse.

Ir is the 11th of August, and the day of days in the life of a grouse shooter is at hand.

Had you seen us at Brawl and not known our design, you would have come to the conclusion that we were setting our castle in order, and preparing to make a great defence.

Such an array of guns, powder and shot flasks! and as for ammunition, we had sufficient to destroy, even with No. 7, the first battalion of red breeches that might set foot in Caithness.

Every man fondling his gun and hoping to extract admiration of its exquisite workmanship from others.

And, indeed, where will you see a daintier piece of work than your modern fifty guinea double-barrelled, turned out by Westley Richards and other eminent gunmakers? No mathematical instrument is truer; so rest assured, if you miss your bird, the fault is your own.

Of course we had breech-loaders, and of course there were hot arguments respecting the merits of this new invention. A neater or more portable tool does not exist, and when rapidity in firing is wanted, the breechloader will undoubtedly do much more execution than the ordinary gun.

Care, however, should be taken to keep the cartridges very dry, otherwise the powder may become damp, and your shooting will be spoiled. It is always better not to prepare more cartridges than are likely to be used in the course of a few days.

The armoury discussed, away we go to the kennel. Were there ever twelve greater beauties?—fresh as the morning, and as active as fawns. Strong limbed too, for a small delicate dog will not do for the Caithness moors. But though our dogs are strong and muscular, this day week, I venture to say, they will look very different animals.

And now for the gillies. It is known that we require several, and here they come trooping up the avenue for hire. Fine stalwart fellows for the most part, equal to the work of carrying the huge game panniers comfortably filled, if not close packed.

The time was, and not many years ago, when your Caithness gilly would tramp continually over moor and moss laden with grouse for one shilling a day. Now, however, everything appertaining to sporting is so much more expensive than formerly, that a gilly will ask three shillings per day, and not work for less than half a crown, expecting besides his breakfast and luncheon, and an unlimited quantity of whisky. To the three shillings wage we made a stout stand; and taking counsel, bethought us that as sturdy women work a-field during a long day for tenpence, two of these would be more than equal to one gilly, and then, what a sensation it would make to go on the moors attended by twelve muscular damsels !

So, assuming great gravity, we declared our intention of dispensing with the service of male gillies, as it was evident that we could procure female gillies at a much cheaper rate.

Highlanders are seldom disposed to be hilarious; it is not to be expected that men cradled in chilly mists and gloom will laugh like the children of the sunny south; nor are they quick at comprehending a joke. Our badinage was regarded as serious talk; and though one or two ventured to think that the gentlemen were not in earnest, the majority looked grave, and reduced their

terms.

Out with the whisky, a glass to each, and we are