50 ERCHLESS AND FARLEY, 1918 



the end, when we found ourselves within 50 yards 

 of the stag and one or two hinds ! Fraser whispered 

 to me that I should have to be very quick with 

 the shot after I had pushed the rifle through the 

 heather over the stone behind which we were 

 lying as flat as flounders, as the moment my head 

 followed my rifle the stag would have me which 

 of course he did; but I was pretty nippy and had 

 him first, and just got him in the chest as he was 

 standing facing me. He fell dead ; and was a nice 

 wee beast of 10 stone 5 pounds. The horns still 

 had the velvet on, but it was quite loose and came 

 off as they were dragging him down hill, and Fraser 

 darkened the horns, such as they were, with mud, 

 and proved himself quite the taxidermist. Kruger 

 was very pleased at the success of the stalk 

 arranged in her honour, and, needless to say, Sally 

 and I were ditto; it was all over by lunch-time, so 

 we were able to sit up and take a little nourishment 

 without any harassment as to what the afternoon 

 would bring forth. 



September the 7th was our next effort, and 

 a very mighty effort it turned out to be. We 

 met Fraser as usual at 10.30, and proceeded to the 

 spying rock, but could see nothing but hinds, so 

 climbed on up to the spying cairn on top, and 

 there we spied a big herd of deer with one good 

 stag and two or three smaller ones on the Hare 

 Hill; but they were very scattered and impossible 

 to get near, and there was nothing for it but a long 



