HIGHLAND SPORTS, AND SPORTING QUARTERS.

BY LINTON.

(Continued.)

Arrived at Fort Augustus, or Kil-y-a-Whoimin, as it is still termed by Highlanders, we took one long look of admiration at the splendid lake which lay stretched like a sheet of glass before us, in which the shadows of the surrounding mountains were distinctly visible; but as we proposed to spend some days amid this truly grand scenery, we shall, for the present, only add that we decided on proceeding thence to our resting place, about four miles distant by water. Having, therefore, hired a boat and two stout rowers, we prepared to do a little fishing on our way, being informed that some heavy trout resorted to that end of the lake, who were nothing loth to swallow a fly which trails at the stern of a boat, even when the bright-coloured shawls which ought to cover the shoulders of fair tourists are trailing there also. So we rigged our gear accordingly; and as the flies skimmed along the surface of the lake, and we reclined in full enjoyment of the weather and the wild but beautiful scene around us, we will crave permission to relate a brief but saddening tale, as told to us by a kilted Highlander with whom we had joined in conversation during the brief hour we had passed in our morning's ramble on the banks of Loch Leven.

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Having alluded to the subject of the numerous English sportsmen and sightseers who now annually cross the border, intent on sport or pleasure, he proceeded to inform us that he kenned well the time when a velveteen shooting jacket or an English face in Glencoe was as great a novelty as a railway might be to Ballaheulish, even in these days of steam and cotton-powder. But," continued he, "even then we were not without the occasional presence of a stranger from the south; and a circumstance occurred in the neighbourhood where you last night slept, which, though years have since elapsed, can never be forgotten: indeed, it has left many sorrowful recollections on the hearths of the inhabitants of this wild glen. It was late one evening, at the latter end of August, that a young Englishman, accompanied only by a fine setter (to which animal he appeared much attached), arrived at the North Ferry House, and solicited accommodation. He had apparently travelled from Fort William in a hired car, and his baggage consisted simply of a portmanteau, gun, and fishing-rod. It was therefore naturally concluded that his object was that of sporting, his appearance unquestionably denoting him to be a gentleman. No impertinent questions were therefore asked, and no information offered on his part as to his intentions or proceedings. He desired simply the accommodation of two rooms, which he stated he might require for some days; and having obtained them, quietly took possession and retired to rest.

On pro

For a few days subsequent to his arrival, little notice was taken of him or his pursuits: he walked out early, fishing-rod in hand, and returned home late. But in this there was neither cause for astonishment nor alarm, it being naturally concluded that he was desirous of visiting the interesting scenes which abounded in the neighbourhood, and consequently passed much of his time in the open air. Added to this, he carried his rod; and if his sport proved successful, it was not likely he would be desirous of leaving it. It may readily be supposed that if, in these enlightened days, the landlady of a Highland hostelry is content to boil her own porridge, and leave her guest to the tender mercy of a bare-footed damsel-of-all-work, that in those more remote to which we allude, the good hostess of the ferry-house was not likely to be over attentive. It was not, therefore, till informed by her trusty hand-maiden that the gentleman took little or no food-that his meals, such as they were, remained in fact almost untasted, and that, on being questioned as to his wishes in reference to food, that he had replied with perfect indifference as to the matter, and perfect satisfaction with any thing which might be provided, and for which he liberally paid, at other times showing great eccentricity and appearance of indisposition-that the good woman herself became desirous of beholding the person of her lodger; which, strange to say, had not previously been the case, although he had already resided several days under her roof. ceeding, therefore, sufficiently early to the sitting apartment to ensure the occupation of its tenant, she was not a little surprised to find herself not in the presence, as she had imagined, of a robust and healthy young man, who, all activity and energy, had ventured alone among these distant northern hills for sport and pastime, but the reality of the following portrait-In the only tolerably comfortable chair which the room possessed, sat, or rather leaned, his head resting on his hand, a young man perhaps eight-and-twenty years of age: his figure was slight; indeed, almost too slight to support the strength of life his countenance, as he looked up on her entrance, though pale as death, was animated by an expression of intense care and thought, which caused a sense of actual pain to the observer; yet it was not positively the pallor of bodily suffering alone, but rather the worn and haggard appearance of intense, torturing, unyielding mental agony, fast destroying the body, till the last thread of life is snapped asunder. His faithful dog lay at his feet, from time to time looking on his sorrowing face, as if the poor animal desired to say- Do not sorrow, master: I, your untiring friend, am with you still.' On the rude sofa, on the chairs, indeed in every part of the room, were scattered books, gun, fishing-tackle; even pistols were there. Amid this mélange of sporting materiel, there could be no mistaking the position of the man-he was a gentleman, and had been a sportsman; indeed, his personal appearance and all around him proved most clearly that he had been accustomed to all the conveniences, and, moreover, the luxuries of life.

"Appearances, however, are often deceitful; but the voice is rarely so, as proving education; and seldom does it deceive in regard to gentle birth. When kindly accosted, therefore, as to his wants and wishes, his courteous and even calm replies, that he was well served and required nothing, satisfied the landlady on that score at least; and after numerous offers of attention, she felt convinced that if he ailed, neither complaint

or cause were serious, and ended her visit by requesting that her good man might be permitted to show him the best pools for salmon, and the best burns for trout, as the day, of all others, was made for sport.

"A week thus elapsed: the stranger ate little and drank less; and if the hints which were thrown out by the servant-lassie were true, he slept not at all, but passed the night in pacing his apartment. On some occasions, when the weather was brilliant, he never left the house; on others, though boisterous and wet, he was seen miles up the glen, sometimes with gun or fishing-rod in hand, and always accompanied by his faithful dog; but game or fish he never brought home. To not a soul was he ever known to speak unaccosted; but when addressed, his replies were ever kind and gentle, as his hand was ever open to calls of charity; and consequently his person was soon known to the poor in the glen; and, save that his manner was eccentric, there were few who passed him without a feeling of respect and recognition of courtesy.'

But we must conclude this painful tale; and we scarcely know why we have introduced it here, save that we listened to it from rough lips, which uttered words which came from a feeling heart; and this during a sporting excursion which memory ever recalls with interest too faithful to be forgotten. Moreover, we cannot but believe that to few of our readers—indeed, we earnestly trust there lives not one to whom its reality may give one moment's pang. "Twelve days had elapsed since the sportsman's arrival in the glen, when late one night-indeed, at the very moment the house was about to be closed-a chaise drove up to the door, also from Fort William. In the interior sat a lady, but so muffled up that it was impossible to distinguish her countenance : in fact, save from her light and youthful figure, it would have been difficult to decide whether she were young or old. She requested in a few words to be informed if an English gentlemen was residing in the house; and having received a reply in the affirmative, begged to be shown to his room. This request was complied with. But over the scene of agony which there was said to have taken place we must beg to draw a veil; for this simple reason, we relate only from hearsay, which can seldom be depended on; and it is just possible, though we trust not probable, that there may be some one now living on whom such memories might fall heavily and painfully, and we desire to be the last to inflict such blow. All, therefore, we shall say is this, that ere morning dawned, with a countenance depicting intense anguish and remorse, still with a firmness, as if compelled to perform a duty for which he had for the last time braced the shattered nerves of his frail existence, rather than as one of pleasure, the stranger led back the lady, still closely wrapped, to the chaise, into which, with heart-rending sobs, she threw herself. It drove away, and he, returning to his apartment, refused all offers of aid or attendance, locked his door, and was alone.

On

"The few additional circumstances connected with this melancholy tale may be soon told: not, however, without sorrow and sadness. going to his apartment rather later than usual on the following morning, his door was still found secured. To this fact, however, little heed was given; a simple remark being made that the poor gentleman was doubtless fatigued after the occurrences of the night. When hours, however, had elapsed, and still no sign was given of his stirring, the landlady repaired herself to learn the cause; but still finding the door locked, she became

alarmed, and immediately requested her husband to place a ladder to the window. He did so, when a horrid scene presented itself. On the floor, half-dressed, lay extended the lifeless form of him who, during his short residence in the glen, by his mild and gentle manners and bearing, had made himself a general favourite. On the floor, covered by his life-blood, lay an open razor; and by his side, with eyes literally tearful, was found the first to welcome the last to forsake-the everfaithful friend of man-his dog."

To those who may, either for sport or other pleasure, perchance to pass by this fair glen, we will merely observe that in the basin of Loch Leven there are several islands. One of these is called St. Mungo's Isle, and has long been used as a burying-place. It consists of two hillocks, one of which is appropriated to the inhabitants of Glencoe, the other to the people of Lochabar. These spots have much local interest, and carry with them many tales of Scottish history. In the former may now be seen an unostentatious stone, on which will be found the following simple inscription:" E. L. Born A. D. 17-; died 18-. Travellers, pass it not without a tear.”

But let us now turn to scenes more bright to the mind, more pleasing to the memory of Highland sports and Highland quarters. "What's that?" A bounce and a plash. "By Job! we have him." And a fine salmon-trout of 3-lbs. weight was gently deposited in the boat; and in a few minutes more our keel grated on the stony shore, which told us we had reached the territory of the Laird of Glenmoriston, the extremity of whose park or domain is watered on the south side by Loch Ness, and to the west by the waters of the rapid and beautiful river of Moriston, which flows o'er many a rock and stone, through the magnificent glen of that name, and at the entrance of which we landed at Invermoriston.

"Yet live there still who can remember well

How, when a mountain-chief his bugle blew,
Both field and forest, dingle, cliff, and dell,
And solitary heath the signal knew ;

And fast the faithful clan around him drew."

We must decline entering into any save general details of the hospitalities so kindly and so courteously accorded to us by the amiable and high-minded owner of the interesting castle of Invermoriston, by whose family, as well as himself, we were so frankly and cordially made welcome. With regard to our first day's dinner, therefore, we will merely state, for those curious in such matters, that its excellency and abundance, for the time being, entirely obliterated from our minds the painful internal recollections most feelingly engendered by the last two days of our travels through a land of scarcity, as regards the wants of luxurious bipeds. Salmon from the lake, grouse from the hills, trout from Moriston, and venison from the mountains, groaned on the board. within; and without, on a terrace in front of the western dining-room window, groaned also, previous to our onslaught on the smoking viands so amply set before us, the discordant sounds of a bagpipe, to us a barbarous uproar of unmusical sounds; to those who admire it, doubtless, a delightful solo: therefore take your choice, readers, and no offence. The custom, however, is another question; to that we have no objection: it is sacred to the memories of days lang syne. And as regards the

piper, he was a fine specimen of a race who need yield to none in Scotland, and in the battle front his mountain-pipe might well sound savage and shrill, to

"Fill the mountaineers

With the fierce native daring which instills
The stirring memory of a thousand years."

In these peaceful days, however, when Highlandmen and cockneys cast their flies in the same salmon-pool, and vie with one another in stalking the red-deer, no such stimulants are required for an onslaught on a venison pasty. But we can have no second thought as regards the impropriety, we may say the unjustifiable indelicacy, of publishing to the world at large the domestic habits of individuals, rich or poor, by whom we have been received with kindness and hospitality, though their residence may be in a Highland glen, and not on Richmond Hill; we shall therefore leave to the imagination of the hungry and thirsty all further details of cuisine and cellar: they may fancy, if they will it, the peculiarly excellent fried potatoes and kippered salmon served up for breakfast; they may discuss also the length of Mr. Grant's nose, and the colour of Mrs. Grant's dress. We shall leave them in that peace and happiness in which we found them, and a continuance in which their Christian lives, and the deserved estimation in which they are held throughout the Highlands, we would fain hope may tend, with God's blessing, to secure it to them and theirs. For our own parts, we could have lingered long, had time and duty permitted it, among those, in whose hospitable mansion the spirit of true. Highland cordiality reigns, surrounded by ease, elegance, and cheerfulness. On local and sporting matters, however, our pen may flow on without fear of intrusion. And as late one evening we stood by the Laird's side, at an open window in front of the castle, and looked on the bright and refulgent moon, which shone o'er the wide waters of the Ness, and beheld the dark and lofty mountains on its southern bank, we scarcely felt the chill night air, so interested were we with his kind information in reference to the historical annals of the spot, as well as with the details of its neighbouring sporting qualities.

The ancient castle of Glenmoriston, or Invermoriston, on the site of which the present mansion stands, was built by John Grant, more commonly called John a'Chragan, between the years 1440 and 1450. This bold chieftain, or clansman, as he might then more properly be termed, whose name stands pre-eminent in the history of those days, when bloodshed and neighbouring feuds were ripe among the clans, was the direct ancestor of the present owner, James Grant, Esq., of Glenmoriston, by courtesy or Highland custom, on all occasions addressed as Glenmoriston; indeed, when first introduced to his amiable wife, we are not quite satisfied that we did not hope Mrs. Glenmoriston was in good health, the name of Grant being quite out of the question in the Glen. In the year 1715, the above ancient strong hold was burnt to the ground by the troops of the government, and the whole property of A 'Chragan forfeited to the crown. Mr. Grant's grandfather, however, repurchased his own estate-at least such was literally the case; and he built on the blackened foundation a residence of wood, to replace the ancient pile of his ancestors.