CH A P T E R V
A D A Y IN L A R IG D O CH A R T
you’ve got a fine day at last, sir ; you’ll
have good luck to-day,” said William as he
drew up the blinds and let the welcome
sunlight permeate my little room, touching
with gold the white points o f the heads o f
fallen monarchs that adorned the walls. The
first part o f this cheerful remark was so
obviously true that I sprang out o f bed at
once, and hurried over my toilet with an
energy I had not experienced for some time
pa st; but as to the good luck, that seemed
almost incredible after the experiences o f the
past week. Every morning I had watched
eagerly for a clear view o f the mountains
with the green and purple tops, only to find
them hidden away under a cloak o f mist or drenching showers, that lasted, with rare
intervals, throughout the day.
Under such circumstances good sport is not to be expected, and (except Mr. Monty
Campbell, who had been pretty successful in the outside lodge o f Altahourn, situated far
up in the forest) none o f us had done very much. Chance shots may, however, be obtained
when the animals are moving from one position to another ; or perhaps a solitary old hart
may be found hiding in some retired corrie to which he has attached himself during the
summer, and which he is loth to leave before the rutting season commences. So at every
possible opportunity out we went, Mr. Maxton Graham (my companion in the Forest
Lodge) and myself, with the result that, except one day when we each got one beast, we
returned drenched to the skin, but with no carcasses but our own to show. Now, however,
on this last day o f our visit we were greeted with such a vision as Scotland alone can
present. Ben T o ig smiled upon us from afar, his robe o f purple gay with golden splashes
o f sunlight, that chased each other over the whole expanse ; and through the open window