26 ERCHLESS AND FARLEY, 1916 



lunch we spied a very good stag near the wood, 

 and after a good stalk Fraser got me to about 

 120 yards from the stag, but, mistaking his exact 

 position as I crawled up, my shot was rather 

 hurried, and I missed him handsomely, and he 

 and the herd went off top speed and disappeared 

 round a hill to our right. Fraser thought they 

 would make a detour and make for the sanctuary, 

 so, leaving Susan and the ghillie, we ran as fast 

 as we could the best part of a mile in the hopes of 

 cutting them off; and sure enough, when we got 

 to the ridge overlooking the valley we expected 

 them to come up there was his majesty 200 yards 

 below us, hesitating for a moment which way to 

 proceed. Suddenly he looked up and saw us, 

 and Fraser whispered to me to fire from his 

 shoulder, as we dare not move. We were both so 

 blown that it was impossible to do so for a few 

 seconds, which seemed like minutes; however, I 

 exhorted Fraser to make a great effort to hold his 

 breath for two or three seconds to prevent his 

 shoulder moving, and he managed to do so, and 

 I fired, and evidently hit it, as it gave a great 

 jump, and Fraser said, " Good shot !" But our 

 troubles were not yet over, for off he went, and 

 was soon out of shot. They went up the hill 

 facing us, and Fraser watched them through the 

 glasses, and Fraser said he thought I had hit him 

 in the stomach. He soon began to drop behind, 

 and finally left the herd and seemed as though he 



