284 WANDERINGS AND MEMORIES 



flats on the top, we at last advanced and got within 

 100 yards of the hinds. Both stags were roaring 

 well, and I felt certain of a shot, when suddenly a 

 dense mist descended and both stags ceased roaring. 

 This was bad luck, and though I kept cutting into 

 various groups of hinds within thirty yards of 

 them, I did not again see either of the stags before 

 darkness set in and operations for the day were 

 over. 



October 2nd. Out for the first time with Mac- 

 Dougall, the stalker, on the best beat. We sur- 

 prised a fine ten-pointer on topping the shoulder of 

 the hill above the Lodge, and as he would be likely 

 to settle again soon in our ground if not followed 

 at once, we worked south round the Dualter Glen, 

 and at last decided to go for a big nine-pointer 

 that was roaring well and seemed quite settled up 

 near the Mar march. We had, in fact, ascended 

 more than half of the steep face above the 

 burn, when, looking back, we saw the ten-pointer 

 we had moved early in the morning with his hinds 

 on the other side of the burn we had lately crossed. 

 MacDougall said that this stag was by far the better 

 one, and had a good head, which was evident, so 

 we retraced our steps, made a fresh stalk over easy, 

 broken ground, and came within 130 yards, at 

 which distance I killed him. This stag carried 

 a good head even for Fealar, all the points being 

 long and black with a nice rough horn. A long 

 walk round Loch Tilt disclosed no good stags, but 

 several inferior ones. 



October 3rd. Away to the south only saw hinds 

 and two small stags. 



October 4<th. Again on the good ground with Mac- 



