Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-11-01
mr., p1cu,ovD NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. NOVEMBER l. 1885.

26t6 Of August, and five miles further
on brought us to the foot OF our big
climb. not far from the top Of the
moors.
GETTING READY FOR THE SPORT.
Here all except the ladies dismount-
ed, and things in general were made
ready for the sport. The ladies rode
another half mile. accompanied by the
two gentlemen who mad not guns. Then
they dismounted also, and all joined
forces and made the tour of the three
tops of the curved hill of which the
moor consisted. The shooters were
placed up and down the hill about lif-
teen yards apart. each man with his
keeper close up, the spectators keeping
above them in order to overlook
the sport and the landscape that
is. if one could call the view we saw
landscape, for it seemed rather cloud
scape. and as if the earth had been
drawn up into the sky. There was peak
after peak Of all kinds of shape, and
all together looking something like an
immense heaving sea that had been tossed
up and suddenly turned into solid
masses, and all the waves left crowding
on one another; and in pity or thank
Culnesss for the transformation, the
clouds lay over them as a Renaissance
of their ocean birth. The day was
gray as gray could be, and the faint
glimmeriDg of sun that streamed hest
tatiugly through the haze lighted
mildly up but few fayorab e spots,
but not sufficient TO raise the color
ing of the hills beyond a dull, dull
purple and other sombre tones. Blank
and dreary and huge these hills and moors
looked, partly owing to the misty air
and partly to their solitude, as there was
no aninste nature to be recognized, ex-
cept On; party and the ptarmigan as
they rose. In the distance were the
woods of Bramar, Balmoral, Inver-
mark, and others distinguishable by
their slightly lower towers from the
moors near them, but, excepting in that
particular, presenting no difference in
appearance from the bare hills.
THE HAUNTs OF THE BIRD.
The moor we were on, like all
haunts of the ptarmigan, is made up in
great part of slaty gray and white
stone. This resembles in color the
plumage Of the bird at this time of
year, which is gray on the back and
head and pure white under the wings
and breast, so that in rising it looks
perfectly white. Later on in the win
ter the moor is covered with snow, and
by then the ptarmigan has turned white
all over, so as to be in unison with
the ground. As these birds were
lying among the slaty rocks
they were difficult to discern, even at
moderate distance, owing to the SINH
larity Of color and tone. They rise in
coyeys of from six to eleven birds, very
quietly and swiftly. and if there was not
a sharp lookout kept they were up and
out Of gun-shot before any one was
ready to shoot. After they were shot
it was often tiresome work to iind them
among the rocks, though our friends
had capital retriever which did good
service, and was more pette1 than
hunting-dogs usually are. After we
had gone over the hills once We turned
round and descended into a sheltered
spot formed by curve in the hills. and
there we took luncheon with an appe.
tite that had been sharpened for the
last half hour by spying it being pre-
pared. We had not found it so cold as
we had expected, the thermometer
only registering a degrees, as against
GO degrees in the valley below, and
we were very warmly dressed. Our
friends told us. however, we
were most lucky in the day, as
there had usually been a bitter
wind blowing at their former visits.
Before sitting down they insisted on our
putting on extra heavy wraps, but in
spite Of this precaution. we were soon
cooling off at rapid rate that even all
kinds of go1d cheer did not prevent.
We warmed up again after starting to
walk after luncheon, and after another
turn was made, this time in the opposite
direction, we prepared to set out home
wards.
The ponies went off in good spirits
and dashed along at full speed, followed
by their friends. They have decided
likes and dislikes; some insist on lead.
ing and some on following one will
stand perfectly still any length of time
next to another, while nothing will in
duce him to remain half second quiet
by third, and if his friend by acct
dent gets ahead without his seeing him
start, away he darts without sign or
warning, and cannot be induced to stop
until he catches up. On the level it Is
matter Of indifference. but coming
down hill at full speed, over stones and
heather, and swerying at sharp angles
to miss bog, raises a doubt in the
mind Of novice in ponies whether they
are as safe as they are reputed to be.
We had several startling gallops on
the way home, which ended with sud-
den stops, which afforded US much
amusement. BY G;30 we were back at
the shooting-lodge, and, after partaking
of the cup Of tea Hospitality offered US
after the fashion Of the country, we
took leave Of our hosts and reached
home an hour later. The ladies Of the
party were surprisingly little tired
with their trip of eight hours of almost
uninterrupted riding and walking,
which we ascribed principally to the
bracing air, with little passed to the
account of the good time they had had.
MILDRED RUSSELL.
Election officials, see that the spirit
and The letter Of the law are strictly
complied with. An irregularity may
lose us the Legislature and return Ma
HONE to the United States Senate.