E. F. Benson

“ So steep was this hill-side that the village was really remote; if it was half a mile away in crow-flying measurement, it must have been a couple of hundred yards below us. But its existence was the odd thing to me: there were some four dozen houses, at the least, while we had not seen half that number since leaving Lairg. A mile away, perhaps, lay the shining shield of the western sea; to the other side, away from the village, I had no difficulty in recognising the river and the loch. The house, in fact, was set on a hog's back; from all sides it must needs be climbed to. ”

“ And that afternoon, as Madge and I drifted about the loch, while I was not employed in disentangling her flies from each other or her hair or my coat, I pondered over our position with regard to the hares and men of Achnaleish, and thought that the question of the bull and the field represented our standpoint pretty accurately. Jim had the shooting of Achnaleish, and that undoubtedly included the right to shoot hares: so too he might have the right to walk over a field in which was a mad bull. ”

“ Now, we had Achnaleish for two months, but we had no wish to be burned or otherwise murdered. What we wanted was not a prosecution of our head-keeper, but peace, the necessaries of life, and beaters. For that we were willing to shoot no hares, and release Maclaren. An hour's conclave next morning settled these things; the ensuing two months were most enjoyable, and relations were the friendliest.
But if anybody wants to test how far what Jim still calls cock-and-bull stories can enter into practical life, I should suggest to him to go a-shooting hares at Achnaleish. ”

“ From the point of view of folk-lore this was admirable.
"There's another cock-and-bull story called 'taboo,’" I said. "It means that nobody will supply you with anything."
"My dear fellow, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing," said Jim, helping himself to marmalade.
I laughed.
"You are irritated," I said, "because you are beginning to be afraid that there is something in it."
"Yes, that's quite true," he said. "But who could have supposed there was anything in it? Ah, dash it! there can't be. A hare is a hare." ”

“ But if a mad bull wishes to prevent my going across a certain field, I do not insist on my rights, but go round instead, since I see no reasonable hope of convincing the bull that according to the constitution of my country I may walk in this field unmolested. ”

“ What skin? A hare-skin! Oh, folk-lore is all very well in its way, a nice subject for discussion when topics are scarce, but don't tell me it can enter into practical life. What can they do?"
"They can shoot us," I remarked.
"The canny, God-fearing Scotchmen shoot us for shooting hares?" he asked.
"Well, it's a possibility. However, I don't think you'll have much of a hare-drive in any case."
"Why not?"
"Because you won't get a single native beater, and you won't get a keeper to come either. You'll have to go with Buxton and your man."
"Then I'll discharge Sandie," snapped Jim. ”

“ Just fancy, in a fortnight's time we shall all four of us be there, in our own shooting-lodge——"
"Farm-house," said Jim.
"Well, I didn't suppose it was Balmoral, with our own coffee-coloured salmon river roaring down to join the waters of our own loch."
Jim lit a cigarette.
"Mabel, you mustn't think of shooting-lodges and salmon rivers and lochs," he said. "It's a farm-house, rather a big one, though I'm sure we shall find it hard enough to fit in. The salmon river you speak of is a big burn, no more, though it appears that salmon have been caught there. ”

“ Men and women on whom no suspicion of the sort lies are thought to be able to do this, and to don the bodies of certain animals, notably hares . . . Such, according to local superstition, are easily distinguishable by their size and colour, which approaches jet black."
I was up and out early next morning, prey to the vivid desire that attacks many folk in new places—namely, to look on the fresh country and the new horizons—and, on going out, certainly the surprise was great. ”

“ Sandie was there, but he turned his back square on me, as did everybody else, and as I approached any group talk fell dead. But a certain movement seemed to be going on; where they stood and talked before, they now moved and were silent. Soon I saw what that meant. None would remain in the street with me: every man was going to his house.
The end house of the street was clearly the "heavenly shop" we had been told of yesterday. The door was open and a small child was looking round it as I approached, for my plan was to go in, order something, and try to get into conversation. ”

“ Jim and I went out before breakfast, and found Sandie at the back door, silent and respectful. In the yard were a dozen young Highlanders, who had beaten for us the day before.
"Morning, Sandie," said Jim shortly. "We'll drive hares to-day. We ought to get a lot in those narrow gorges up above. Get a dozen beaters more, can you?" ”