204 HIGHLAND SPORT 



for had they been big, strong stags we should have been 

 lucky indeed to get even one of them. 



We spent a merry evening, as Patcham had killed a good 

 ten-pointer, while I knew I had made a fast friend of Dyke 

 for life, and that being the case, I was, perhaps, more to be 

 congratulated than either of the deer-slayers. 



5 th. — Patcham and I were both off by eight o'clock to 

 our respective beats. Dyke was to breakfast late and fish 

 the loch close by the lodge. The day was all that could be 

 wished, cool, with a steady breeze, a good light, broken by 

 blinks of sunshine. At a quiet pace we made our way to the 

 hilltop, where we at once found deer, for near at hand five 

 stags were feeding with some hinds. The stalk being easy, the 

 best stag, a fat eight-pointer, bit the dust. Angus performed 

 the gralloch, whilst I sat down and soon spied a solitary stag 

 coming into sight ; he was going at a trot, but evidently had 

 been disturbed by the sound of the recent report, although 

 not quite knowing from which direction the noise had come. 

 I pointed him out to Angus, who prompUy called out — 



" Have a try for him, sir, while I finish my work ; it's a 

 sharp run, but if you can reach the big stane yonder before 

 he does, you will cut him off, for that will be his line, and 

 I'm thinking you will get there in time." 



The aforesaid stone was about a mile in front of the stag, 

 but much nearer to me than to him, so taking my bearings, 

 I dashed off best pace. It was a down-hill run, the ground 

 completely hid me, and I reached the spot puffing and blowing 

 like a grampus, as, settling myself in a happy position, I waited 

 the issue of Angus' prophecy. But not for long, for I soon 

 saw the quarry trotting in the line foretold, and when he 

 came broadside, as I pressed the trigger he rolled over stone- 

 dead, so running up I bled him, and waited for the advent 

 of Angus the prophet, who shortly put in an appearance, 

 the while smiling proudly at the success of his strategy, 

 although he was polite enough to declare all his pleasure was 



