CHAPTER III 



ERCHLESS AND FARLEY, 1916 



A YEAR of wild regrets and maddening misses, 

 with only one bright spot to soften the blackness. 

 The head-keeper, Ewen Matheson, had returned, 

 having got his discharge from the army, after 

 being all through the Dardanelles fiasco. Little 

 did he think that a Farley fiasco was in store for 

 him, but such, poor fellow, was his fate. A nicer 

 fellow never lived a fine braw Highlander, well 

 over 6 feet, he was a magnificent specimen of 

 mankind, and though close on fifty, he looked ten 

 years younger till he was done with me that 

 aged him more than GaUipoli ! It is curious, 

 but somehow from the first I felt that I could 

 not shoot with him both of us were too keen 

 and too excitable. I require a soothing atmo- 

 sphere such as Pau and old Davie rather than the 

 stimulating breezes of Biarritz and Ewen. In 

 addition, there was the tragedy yet to be described 

 which could only end in disaster, irrespective of 

 temperament ex uno disce omnes. There were 

 very few deer in Farley Wood this August, as the 

 wood was being ruthlessly cut down and quite 



16 



