The Tommiebeg Shootings; or, a Moor in Scotland. ... With illustrations, by P. Skelton

Front matter

The Dog-dealers Dodge P. 38. Front K®(unriL£!MiE m\$m mm munim^. 1©S1©4@R1 fflMOS VCMm THE TOMMIEBEG SHOOTINGS; OR, A MOOR IN SCOTLAND. BV THOMAS JEANS. WITH ILLUSTRATIONS, BY PEBCIVAL SKELTON. LONDON : BOTJTLEDGE, WAENE, AND EOUTLEDGE, FARRINGDON STREET; NEW YORK : 56, WALKER STREET. 1860. LONDON : BRADBURY -ApHjTr^r^^R^SJTERS, WHITEFRIARS. I.N TO S% tjjrasjjtb Utaorg OF MY DEAR FRIEND AND SCHOOLFELLOW, THE LATE CHARLES ST. JOHN, (AOTHOR OF "WILD SrORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS," ETC.), TO WHOM I WAS INDEBTED FOR MY FIRST

Introduction

TO THE NORTH, AND WHOSE DELIGHTFUL COMPANIONSHIP IT WAS MY PRIVILEGE TO ENJOY MANY A WILD ADVENTURE OF FLOOD AND FIELD. | mstrilw t|jis fflobmt. T. J CONTENTS.

Chapter I

Of Mr. Samuel Brixey, and Mr. Peter Fribbles, and the proposed visit to Stoke Newington ....... 1 CHAPTEE II. How Mr. Samuel Brixey came to grief, and by what accident he was induced to take a Moor in Scotland ...... 9

Chapter XVII

A tale of Timbuctoo — Organic changes — Ruminations of Fribbles — The inn door at Fochabers — A big fish — Doubts respecting it . 193

CHAPTER XVIIL

A dinner-party at the North Cape— Fly fishing in India — Novel mode of lighting a cheroot — Wild sports of Siberia — Arrival at Morayburgh — Mr. Evan M'Snail 204

A soft day — Brixey's sentiments about a kilt — First blood — The arrival at Tommiebeg Park — First impressions — Not so bad after all ! 254

Chapter XXIII

A word on modern sports — With and without dogs — Fribbles nearly fills the bag with his first shot — He becomes a first-rate performer by keeping his head cool — Death of a snipe and who went in for it . . . . . . . . . 266

Chapter XXIX

Explanations are satisfactory — A letter from Miss Martha Brixey — Parting word about the Captain — Low spirits of Fribbles — Brixey sees a wonderful beast — An otter hunt — The use of a clip — The celebration of the death of the otter . . ..340

Chapter XXX

Visitors at the lodge — Pig-shooting in Ireland — A lucky shot — Big game at Bandalore — Lapidivorous hare of Buffon — The green goose — Bengal tigers in Scotland ...... 351

Chapter XXXI

A reflection or two on angling — Fribbles becomes a contemplative man — His recreation accordingly — Notes for a tourist — Pleasant for Mr. Fluffey — Much good advice rejected by Fribbles — Thoughts on matrimony — Doubts ...... 364

Chapter XXXV

An early passage in the history of the Cromarty family — Brixey arrives in time for a wedding breakfast — Goes through the inventory at Tommiebeg, and gives up the lodge — A word about Moors in general — And a moral . . . . . .414 OR, A MOOR IN SCOTLAND.

Chapter I

Of Mr. Samuel Brixey and Mr. Peter Fribbles, and the proposed visit to Stoke Newington. It is at that season of the year when green peas are a drug, and when gooseberries of gigantic proportions, and cucumbers of alarming growth jostle one another with jealous rivalry in the columns of the newspapers — when the Hudson's Bay Fur Company's shares are at a discount, and Wenham Lake Ice scrip is bought up at fabulous quotations — when hostile Members of Parliament, who have abused each other daily, from the commencement of the session, shake hands and pair off like Siamese Twins — and when Ministers, harassed and worn out with dry discussions on the affairs of the nation in Downing Street, are looking forward with fond anticipation to discussing crisp white-bait and cool claret cup at Greenwich — the sun strikes hot upon the London pavement, and the foot passenger, whether bent on business or pleasure, courts the shady side of the street; the water-cart is dispensing its refreshing shower on the dusty roadway, and one is tempted to envy those nice little boys who are following close in its wake, B and, reckless of consequences, are playfully laying the dust upon each other's jackets — Happy innocence !

A hansom cab, dragged at a snail's pace by a tall, wiry, big-boned horse, pulls up lazily at the corner, opposite a doorway, on either side of which is delineated, in black and white, a cabalistic device called " The Chequers ; " and here we would fain pause to inquire into the hidden mean ing of this commonly adopted sign — we would know whether it has aught to do with the chequered existence of man, in general, or of those in particular who love to frequent houses bearing such an ensign. Is it allegorical of the certain drain on the exchequer of such as too freely enter those portals ? But not to pursue these interesting specu lations further, we will leave them to be taken up by " Notes and Queries," and return to the locomotive which brought us to the door suggestive of this digression.

Its driver is lolling listlessly in his shirt-sleeves over the roof, and nods languidly, though approvingly, to the proposition made by an acquaintance of his, who is standing on the curbstone, touching the high temperature, and the sultry state of the atmosphere : the latter goes on to remark further, that it has the effect of making one " uncommon thirsty," and, as if in corroboration of this sentiment, he vanishes suddenly through the door above mentioned, whence he speedily emerges bearing a foaming pewter pot. This he hands silently to him of the cab, who, wasting no words, slowly raises it to his lips, nods over it to the bearer, hides his face behind it for a time, and then with a sigh delivers it to his friend, that he may go through the same ceremony. It is past the middle of July, and the London season is fast drawing to a close.

In the great thoroughfares, in the business streets, there is ever the same ebb and flow of life . OE, A MOOR IN SCOTLAND. 3 winter and summer, the stream of passengers rolls on with out any sensible diminution in its volume, save what is caused by the substitution of the light and airy " registered five-ounce Alpaca" for the heavy sombre Poncho, or the rough bulky overcoat of a few weeks since. It is not thus in the streets west of Charing Cross — if any activity be visible there, it is manifested for the most part by those who are rushing about from place to place, from shop to shop, to complete their final arrangements, and make their last purchases before leaving town. Let us take a glance at Pall Mall — with the exception of one or two rather seedy looking individuals, lounging on the steps of " The Reform," and a brace of old gentlemen who are shaking hands with one another at the door of " The Travellers," for the last time before the one leaves for Kissingen and the other for Malvern — it is a desert.

There is, to be sure, one well appointed brougham at "The Guards," and a young Crimean hero has just chartered a hansom from " The Flag." The clock at St. James's Palace was striking three, when two gentlemen might have been seen (by anybody who happened to be looking in that direction) coming out of the " Megatherium Club." Por some seconds they re mained in eager conversation on the landing before the door, then slowly descending the steps they halted again on the pavement, as though to settle the point in discussion, and having apparently come to an amicable adjustment of the matter, proceeded, arm in arm, eastwards along Pall Mall. The younger — we have observed that one of our most prolific novelists, whenever he introduces, as he often does, to the reader a pair of mysterious personages threading their way along a glade in the forest, begins inevitably with the B younger.

The younger, who was also the taller of the two, might have seen some five-and-twenty summers, whose genial warmth (despite the chilling influence of the same number of winters, which we suppose he had also witnessed) appeared to have drawn him up, much in the same way as we see a plant in a lofty greenhouse drawn upwards towards the light ; and, like other animal and vegetable productions which have been forced, he had lost in under growth and strength what he had gained in height. He was a lank leggy figure, and this he had not cared to improve by the adoption of a quiet style of dress. A particularly narrow brimmed hat covered a small head of straight sandy hair, and afforded but trifling shade to a puffy sallow face, innocent of anything like whisker, but exhibiting where the imperial is usually worn a few straggling, reddish hairs.

This, not to say interesting, head was kept at any elevated angle by an "all-round" collar meeting under his chin, and confined by a neckerchief of bright crimson network, which, passing through a big carbuncle ring, lost itself in the depths of a preternaturally long waistcoat of white towelling, with onyx buttons. This white expanse was relieved by a massive gold curb-chain, looped to a button hole by a watch-key in the shape of a hunting-whip, and suspended from this was a bunch of " charms, " consisting of miniature boots, boot-jacks, arms, legs, mice, fishes, &c, of coral, and coloured lavas. His coat was black, but un like anybody else's coat — the waist very long, the skirts very short, the sleeves big enough for his body, and lined with scarlet. It was, however, in the clothing of the nether man that he came out strongest ; and here, in like manner as it would be difficult to speak in terms sufficiently "loud" to describe this garment, so is the pen powerless to write its details.

The general impression left on the mind of the passer-by was that it was of a bright green, but a nearer inspection would have disclosed bars and stripes of every colour, marvellous to behold. We mention a pair of " Runcimans" of cunning and peculiar fashion, as well as a pair of primrose-coloured kid gloves, to complete the picture of tins youth, whose name was Fribbles — Peter Fribbles. As if to render more conspicuous the unusual length and slender dimensions of his companion, the figure of the older of the pair was in every way a contrast to it. He was a good-humoured looking, punchy, dapper little man, who might have weathered some fifty or five-and-fifty winters, which had not visited him too roughly, merely rounding off the angles, if ever he had any, and giving to his features a cheery Christmas glow, quite pleasant to look upon.

It may be objected that we do not give a minute descrip tion of this personage's dress, as we have done by that of his friend — now, it is not unworthy of remark, that, by some natural process, the costume generally adapts itself singularly to the wearer — whether it be that the character of the dress assimilates itself to the character of the individual, or vice versa, but certain it is that they not unfre quently seem as though made for one another. There are sometimes incongruities — but these arise from accident or whim. Take, by way of illustration, that veteran beau, Sir Plumley Luffington; let him discard his wig — his "gentleman's invisible head of hair," as the advertisement has it — send him down into the country to rusticate, having first broken his bottle of " instantaneous hair-dye."

Let the tailor at Little Ducklington take his measure; and then dress him up in the result. We put an extreme case, because we firmly believe that poor Sir Plumley, if he could not dye his whiskers, would die himself outright under such a visitation. But suppose such a thing to be, we affirm that this metamorphosis would be a failure in effect. Sir Plumley Luffington could no more look like a respectable, elderly, country gentleman, than old Squire Tykes, tra vestied into " the man about town," could support the character decently for five minutes. Thus, the dress of Mr. Samuel Brixey was exactly what a middle-aged gentle man, of quiet unobtrusive habits, might be expected to wear. There was nothing remarkable in his white hat, any more than in his dark brown morning coat, with waistcoat, &c, to match.

The two friends walked at a quick pace, not exactly " pari passu," but with unequal strides, as may be conjec tured from the extreme length of limb developed in the taller of the pair ; he tried good-naturedly to keep the step, in the performance of which gymnastic he had very much the appearance of " marking time ; " forgetting himself, however, every now and then, in the animated conversation they were holding, he obliged his ill-matched companion to take at least two paces to his one. Progressing thus along Pall Mall, they turned into the Haymarket. It is an indisputable fact, that a cabman or an omnibus conductor has, at any distance within the range of his vision, an instinctive recognition of a fare, nor did the driver of the vehicle we left standing opposite "the Chequers " form an exception to the rule ; for, no sooner did Brixey and Fribbles appear round the corner, than that individual, who was still on his box, in familiar conversation with his friend, suddenly slipped himself into his coat removed the short pipe in which he was indulging from his mouth, and replacing it with a straw, entered straightway upon a series of pantomime, indicative of a desire to attract the attention of the two gentlemen on foot ; as they drew nearer, he became more energetic, and his words, " Cab, your honour !

" brought the friends to a stand-still. " Fust rate oss, gents, fresh as paint — jist come out of the stable ! " continued the man, observing the impression he had made, and accompanying the remark with a flick of his whip on some well-known raw, which woke up the poor beast from pleasant dreams of the loose boxes and five feeds a day of his youth. " Do you know, my man," inquired Brixey, " such a place as Dedman's Rents — near Stoke Newington, is it not, Peter ? " " Yes," replied the latter, " here is the direction — Mr. Joseph Higgs, Dedman's Rents, Stoke Newington." " Bill ! — I say, Bill ! " cried the cabman to his friend, who had withdrawn into the background, and was busily engaged, with the politeness peculiar to his class, in taking a comprehensive survey of Fribbles, with whose appearance he seemed vastly pleased, " You don't know where Ded man's Rents is — do you ?

" "I should jest think I did — up Newington vay — vere Joe Iggs's is," was the reply. " Higgs ! " interrupted Brixey, " the very man we want to see — a dealer in dogs ? " " All right, sir ! " said the driver. " Jump in, gents — here, you Bill, tumble up along o' me. Hold up then ! " The latter words were addressed to the horse, who, from stiffness or weakness, or both combined, very nearly came down, as he was jerked short round to begin his journey; being, however, painfully roused to a sense of his liabilities, by another playful cut of the whip across his ears, the animal dashed off at a rate which only cab horses can attain to in crowded thoroughfares, cutting in here in alarming proximity to a heavy dray, shaving the lamp-post there, and THE TOMMIETJEG SHOOTINGS; threatening instant annihilation to terrified old ladies and angry elderly gentlemen, to each of whom the driver thought it incumbent on him to address some mild remarks on the folly of trusting themselves out alone in the streets, without " a nussery maid to take care of 'em."

The broad gauge of the City Road restored a degree of comfort to the inside passengers, but they had hardly time to congratulate themselves when, the horse's head being again turned northwards, they were entangled in a labyrinth of narrow streets, the inhabitants of which seemed to turn their minds principally to letting lodgings, turning mangles, rearing children, sweeping chimneys, and vending coals, potatoes, and pickled salmon. The line of street gradually faded away as they proceeded, and presently the houses, which had some time since retired into narrow, black slips of garden, were succeeded by the shells of miserable tenements, abandoned in every stage of completion, and disclosing in their thin, half-mortared walls, the secrets of the comfortless system of cheap building. These, too, were soon left behind, and gave place to a wide, rough expanse of brickfield, whose monotony was broken only by a few straggling, melancholy ghosts of stripped elms, scattered thinly about, and waiting their turn to be swept away by the flood of the approaching city.

But before we proceed to record, in proper detail, the visit paid to Mr. Joseph Higgs by the two gentlemen, whose movements in that direction we have just narrated, the reader may most likely desire to know something about these individuals, and what was the nature of their errand to this remote suburb where dog-" merchants most do con gregate." But this is too important a topic -to be foisted in at the end of a chapter, and we shall therefore enter upon its discussion in our next.

Chapter II

How Mr. Samuel Brixey came to grief, and by what accident he was induced to take a Moor in Scotland. It will, we think, be admitted by everyone who has passed many years in this sublunary world of ours, that the greater part, if not every one, of the important events of his life have been brought about by accident, or by circumstances the least likely to lead to such results. However well regulated and uniform a man's life may be, how little able is he to calculate, when he gets up in the morning, what the day will bring forth — what changes and chances the next four-and-twenty hours may have in store for him ! An advertisement in the " Times," it may be, startles him at breakfast, bidding him, if he would " hear of something to his advantage," apply at once to Messrs. Weezle and Stote, of Lincoln's Inn, which " something " has the effect ultimately of completely upsetting all his preconceived plans, and of turning all his thoughts and energies into a new channel.

An old acquaintance of ours always says he owes his wife to an aneroid barometer. The weather was at " set fair," but his new instrument indicated " rain : " he was a bachelor, and a careful man, so on leaving home he took his umbrella : it did rain, and he offered his umbrella to a lady in Wimpole Street : she accepted it gratefully, and in process of time accepted the lender as her husband. There is a well known and well authenticated story of a youth who became the inheritor of a colossal fortune merely by opening his pew-door to a rich, but shabbily dressed, nabob in a London parish church. We never heard, by the bye, of any more cases of the sort, although for a long time after this event half the pew-doors in half the churches stood hospitably and invitingly open to the stranger. Without going further for an illustration, it was accident by which it came to pass that Brixey became a sportsman ; a bad cold, caught by overheating himself in his excitement to see the Emperor and Empress of the French during their visit to London, was the proximate cause of his taking a moor in Scotland.

We do not consider it necessary to say a great deal of Mr. Samuel Brixey's antecedents, still less do we propose giving many particulars touching his relatives. He had been formerly a partner in the well-known mercantile firm of Brixey Brothers, at Liverpool ; and some ten years before the period at which he is introduced to the reader, finding himself rich enough for his wants, he had had the good sense to leave the concern while he might not unrea sonably hope to have many years' enjoyment of his inde pendence. His early habits and education unfitted him for a country life ; and wisely thinking it too late for him to take kindly to country pursuits, he retired to the metropolis, took a small snug house in the neighbourhood of Montague Square, and invited his sister, Miss Martha Brixey, a lady of mature years and careful habits, to preside over his establishment.

This was a sensible arrangement, for more reasons than one; it relieved him from all the domestic cares and troubles incident to a housekeeper; and the presence of a lady operated as a wholesome check upon her brother's expansive hospitality ; for Brixey was of a good natured disposition, and, moreover, of a convivial turn of mind. He was fond of bringing home his bachelor friends dinner, and although his sister, far from setting her face against this custom, seemed rather to encourage it, doubtless because it gave her worthy brother pleasure, still the consciousness of there being a tea-urn hissing in the drawing-room had very often the effect of preventing the introduction of " that other bottle " of port in the dining room. Brixey's habits of life were simple as they were regular : during the whole term of his residence in London he had hardly spent a day from home, except in the gudgeon season, when he would go down occasionally with a couple of friends to Thames Ditton or Hampton for a day or two's punt fishing.

His mornings were usually passed at the Megatherium Club ; and it was rare that he was not to be seen during the season in the afternoon on his quiet cob in Rotten Row. The visit of the Emperor and Empress of the French to this country was productive of more excitement to Brixey than any event which had taken place in London in his time. AATierever they showed themselves he was sure to be among the many bareheaded; and was to be seen waving his hat frantically, and shouting, "Vive l'Ein perore ! " till he was hoarse. At all the progresses of the Imperial party through the City, Brixey was conspicuous for the noisiness and heartiness of his welcome ; and so anxious was he to appropriate to himself a bow of acknow ledgment from the pretty Empress, that in his enthusiasm he one day approached too nearly the Imperial carriage as it was passing Charing Cross, when, just as the Empress was turning towards him, and he was on the point of attaining the darling wish of his heart, he found himself rudely collared by a detective in plain clothes, who handed him over to a couple of policemen ; and before he had time to say a word they hustled him away, and in an exceedingly short space of time lodged him in the neighbouring station house.

Here he was compelled to wait, in presence of a grim-looking inspector, till the arrival of the detective who had given him in charge. Poor Brixey's feelings may be imagined, not described, when this latter personage deposed to having seen the prisoner always pressing forward to get near the Imperial carriage, elbowing savagely every one out of his way in order to get into the foremost rank of the crowd. He affirmed, moreover, that the face of the accused was well known to him, although since he had last seen him he had shaved off' his beard aud moustache. As ill-luck would have it, Brixey had that very morning called in the Strand for a watch and bracelet of his sister's which had been under repair ; and on being searched, the having in his possession two watches and some articles of ladies' jewellery was a circumstance, naturally enough, rather against him.

The affair, however, ended in his being detained till the jeweller and a clerk from Toots's bank arrived to bear testimony to his character. He was then dismissed; and, having been convicted of doing nothing, was warned not to do it again. Whether it was the vexation caused by this incident, or a cold caught at the station-house, or both together com bined which led to it, but so it was, that Brixey on arriving at home found himself grievously indisposed. He was attacked by a severe influenza, which made him a prisoner in his house for some time, and put him into the hands of his medical adviser and friend, Dr. M'Phun. When after some weeks he had shaken off the complaint, he was so reduced in strength, and his convalescence was so slow, that he began to listen, with something like complacencv, the Doctor's often-repeated suggestions of change of air.

" Don't send me, my dear Doctor," he said one day, rather submissively — he was coming round — " don't send me to a watering-place. The Isle of Wight would settle me in a fortnight, and I am sure I should leave my bones at Torquay, like most of the invalids who go there." " Torquay and Ventnor ! " replied the Doctor, laughing, " I only send my delicate patients to such places, and ye are no just one of them. It's a bracing air ye require : Malvern, or may be Scarbro' ; or, what say ye to the Hielands ? And why should ye not take a moor ? Ye'll easily find a pleasant friend to join ye." " Take a moor ! " repeated Brixej', slowly : " take a moor ! You talk, Doctor, of taking a moor, like taking physic : but where are moors to be got ? Where does one apply ? Is there an office or agent in town ?

I am utterly ignorant of everything connected with moors." " I'll tell ye what I'll do for ye," said the Doctor. " I'll just send ye St. John's book of ' Hieland Sports,' and another volume or two. Aye, there's ' Scrope,' and ' the Rod and the Gun ; ' and, now I mind me, my brother, Sandy, left 'Snowie's List' behind him. I'll send it ye." For a long time after the Doctor's departure, Brixey remained musing. The words, " Why should ye not take a moor ? " haunted him ; and why, he said to himself, should I not take a moor ? I have heard so much of the delights of grouse-shooting from the young fellows at the club, there must be something very exciting in it. I wonder it never occurred to me before. In due time, Dr. M'Phun performed his promise, and with half-a-dozen books on sporting -subjects, enclosed the well-known annual list of moors to be let, published by ; Mr. Snowie of Inverness.

With feelings of wonderment Brixey looked over this interesting document — it was a new subject to him — he spelt through all the advertisements, and was absolutely bewildered with the contemplation of the peculiar advantages set forth by every one of them. In one he was tempted by the announcement of there being " good hand-line fishing in the bay ; " in another there was the luxury of "a park for a pony;" here, there was actually " a carriage road to the door of the lodge," — there, peat and fuel were supplied by the proprietor. One of them set forth how that " good trout-fishing was to be enjoyed by rod or net." As to red and roe deer, grouse, ptarmigan, black-game, hares, rabbits, partridges, woodcock, snipe, and wild-fowl, they were as plentiful as blackberries ; and then, again, there were " salmon in the rivers, and trout and char in some of the lakes," besides abundance o.f pike " of which," said one, " twenty-two have been taken at one trawl, some of them running to the size of twenty and thirty pounds weight."

(To us this would have afforded strong grounds for concluding there were very few left for succeeding tenants.) _____ short, they each and all seemed so eligible that Biixey wondered how any should be yet left in the market. There was one advertisement which particularly took his fancy, as it seemed to combine every desirable object. It ran thus : — " SHOOTINGS AND FISHINGS IN INVERNESS-SHIRE. " The shootings and fishings of Tommiebeg, extending over the grounds of Knockandoun, and marching with the deer forest of Corriewhiskie and i Glenfoulachin, embracing a range over from 12,000 to 15,000 acres, or thereby. The shootings are quite first-rate. Red and roe deer frequently on the ground. Every variety of game — grouse, ptarmigan, and black-game on the upper range, and the low ground abounds in partridges, hares, rabbits — with woodcock, snipe, and wildfowl in the season.

The river affords trout fishing, and salmon after rain. Excellent salmon fishing to be had in the Spey, which bounds the property. Not more than 800 brace of grouse to be killed in the season, and ten deer, that is to say, seven stags and three hinds. The lodge, furnished with all modern conveniences, is situated in an extensive park, and contains one public room, three bed rooms, kitchen, and a sleeping room for gillies. Intending offerers may apply for further particulars to Mr. Evan M'Snail, Morayburgh ; or to Alexander Worriecow, Esq., W. S., Edinburgh." Brixey sat one morning with Snowie's list before him, musing on the promising moor, and as he leaned back in his library chair was vainly trying " to realise," as the Ame ricans say, the idea of a sportsman's life in Scotland. Already his imagination was running wild — he fancied him self now bounding over the springy heather after the seven stags and the three hinds ; now returning home, his pockets filled with grouse and black-cock, and his appetite sharp ened by the bracing and invigorating air of the mountains — he pictured to himself the excitement of pursuing the roe deer in the grassy glades of Glenfoulachin, and the delight of reposing on the green sward under the friendly shade of some giant oak, or gnarled old beech tree in the forest of Corriewhiskie.