the picturesque but mysterious vernacular of
her race, remarked at luncheon, "to hold the baby this time."

After the third drive we gladly put up our guns and tramped down the
hillside to the road below, where the ladies were waiting and the feast
was spread. After we had disposed of grouse sandwiches,
whisky-and-water, and jammy scones, and were devoting our post-prandial
leisure to repose or dalliance with the fair--according as we were
married or single--Lady Rubislaw inquired--

"Where are you shooting this afternoon, John?"

"The Neb, first," replied the Admiral. "And that reminds me, the man who
drew the top butt had better start now, or he'll be late."

With many groans, and followed by the mingled derision and sympathy of
the company, I picked up my _impedimenta_ and started, leaving the
others to decide who, if any, of the shooters was to have the honour of
entertaining a lady in his butt.

The Neb was a great mountain spur, whose base ran to within two or three
hundred yards of our resting-place. In appearance it roughly resembled a
mighty Napoleonic nose. The butts ran right up the ridge of that organ;
and nine hundred feet above where we sat, just below an excrescence
locally known as "The Pimple," lay mine.

I reached my eyrie at last, and having laid my flask, tobacco-pouch, and
twelve loose cartridges where I could reach them most handily on
projecting shelves of peat inside the butt--I love neatness and method:
Kitty says that when (if ever) I get to heaven I will decline to enter
until I have wiped my boots,--settled down to enjoy a superb view and
take note of the not altogether uninteresting manner in which the other
members of the party were disposing themselves for the drive.

Just below me were Standish and Miss Buncle, the lady a conspicuous mark
for all men (and grouse) to behold by reason of a red tam o'shanter, the
sight of which made me regret that its wearer was not employed as a
beater. In the butt below were Dermott and Dolly--both very workmanlike
and inconspicuous. Below them came the Admiral, with his wife (she
always came and sat behind him, like a remarkably smart little
powder-monkey, during the afternoon drive): below them, the Gilmertons;
and last of all, thank Heaven! Gerald.

The shooting on this beat would not be easy, though birds were always
plentiful. They came round the face of the hill at very short range and
express speed. My particular butt was notoriously difficu