instead of his sixty-five years, and had an equally interesting past.
As a youth he had fought in many battles for the Turks, and was
eventually selected with five other young men of high standing for the
personal bodyguard of the Sultan. While on leave, which he was
spending in his Albanian home, the order came for the disarming of the
whole of Albania. Sokol's tribe refused, as did most of these warlike
clans, though Sokol advised obedience. But his clan remained obdurate,
and he was placed in the awkward predicament of being either
considered a traitor by his countrymen or by his Sovereign. Sokol
threw in his lot with his clan, and led them in battle against a
Turkish force; but though he fought like a lion, the clan were
defeated, and he was forced to fly. For many years Sokol lived in the
Albanian mountains, half robber and wholly patriot; but the pursuit
became too keen, and he came to Podgorica, where he entered the
service of Prince Nicolas. His new Prince he serves loyally, and is
highly esteemed in Montenegro, where he will doubtless end his
days.

[Illustration: ACHMET UIKO]

[Illustration: SOKOL BACO]

While still comparatively new to the country, we once went for a
week's shooting to the Lake of Scutari. Water-fowl abound there in
marvellous numbers, consisting chiefly of crane, heron, thousands of
duck, and a fair number of pelicans.

We had selected the island of Vranjina for our headquarters, known in
history as the site of a famous treaty signed there between the
Montenegrins and Venetians in the first half of the fifteenth century.
It lies at the north or Montenegrin end of the lake.

As we were given to understand that we could drive to the lake, or at
least to the River Moraca, and thence take boat to the island, we
loaded our carriage with ample luggage. With our guide's usual and
admirable mismanagement, we were landed after a two hours' drive on
the banks of the Moraca, unable to get further without the carriage
toppling down a steep bank into the rapid river. The driver
unceremoniously bundled our traps on to the ground and drove happily
off. The only person in sight was a diminutive girl, whom the guide
promptly impressed into our service, and an appalling load was heaped
upon her. Then a small boy appeared, and so we were able to make
another start. The day was exceedingly hot, but we got some shooting
to make up for it. We crossed the river in a crazy ferry, found some
men, and later on