DAVIE'S AND THE LAIRD'S LUCK 47 



my eye off the ball," and which turned out to be 

 only too true, as my leg bothered me all the winter 

 and was the price I had to pay for my pearls of 

 great price. As Roy had not had a shot, I asked 

 him and Stone at lunch-time if they would rather 

 go and try in the open than continue driving. Of 

 course they would, so off they went, and each got 

 a stag on the West Hill just before dark Roy a 

 9-pointer weighing 16 stone 5 pounds, and Stone 

 an 8-pointer, 14 stone 11 pounds. And so we 

 were only two short of our number when the 

 curtain was rung down on the most remarkable 

 ten days that I am ever likely to see in my 

 stalking career. We ought to have had five 

 stags easily on the last day but for the lapses of 

 the laird. 



