UNLUCKY WITH JIMMY JOHNSTON 65 



turned out to be a magnificent beast, the heaviest 

 stag I have got on Farley in five years, and 

 weighed 17 stone 2 pounds. He was an 8-pointer 

 with a 28-inch spread and strong, rough horns, 

 though not very dark in colour. He was a young 

 stag, and had signs of two more on top on the right 

 horn, so he would very likely have been a Royal 

 next year. All this happened within a quarter of 

 an hour of leaving Susan and Jimmy, and I almost 

 thought they would hear the shot and turn back; 

 however, they did not, and after performing the 

 gralloch we made for the ridge which commands a 

 view of the greens where Sandy and the pony had 

 been left, and after a deal of signalling succeeded 

 in attracting Sandy's attention, thanks to Susan, 

 who on joining Sandy had a good look through her 

 glasses back at the West Hill, and picked us up 

 frantically signalling. So in an hour's time Sandy 

 was back with us, and by 5.30 we had our stag on 

 the pony's back, and with some difficulty and great 

 care got him safely into the larder soon after 7, 

 where he turned the beam at 240 pounds, and I 

 took a cup of tea in Stone's house with great 

 content, and was back at Balblair just before 8. 

 It was very curious getting this stag so soon 

 after they had left us. I kept saying to Susan 

 I was always unlucky with Jimmy Johnston, 

 and of course now I feel more than ever so, and 

 always shall till we break our run of bad luck. 

 Billy Smith and Merton are both lucky with 



