MY FIRST ROYAL 41 



for Fraser thinking it was only a 10-pointer; 

 but still, the sixth point on each side was quite 

 distinct, and it was an undoubted Royal, though 

 not a very good head. The horns were long and 

 thick, and the other points were well developed, 

 but the spread was narrow, the cups were very 

 poor with such small third points on top. His 

 weight was 14 stone. We lunched beside him, 

 and of course the flask was duly passed around. 

 Scarcely had we settled for lunch when Fraser 

 crept up to us and said some deer were making 

 right for us from Farley. I leapt up and seized 

 the rifle, and crept to the top of the wee hollow 

 we were lunching in, and there were the deer 

 trotting towards us about 200 yards away. They 

 then turned rather to the right, and Fraser 

 whistled to try and stop them, but they kept on; 

 and as there was a goodish stag amongst them, 



I determined on a running shot, and fired and 

 hit him rather far behind; he did not drop, but 

 was evidently hard hit, and after going 200 or 

 300 yards he lay down, and we crawled up to him 

 and gave him the happy despatch. So my number 

 was complete before lunch, and so was my happi- 

 ness. He was an 8-pointer, and weighed 14 stone 



II pounds. Lunch was taken without further 

 interruptions, and we were back at the car by 

 3.30 ponies, stags, and empty flasks. A glorious 

 wind up ! 



Having finished on Erchless, I could now devote 



