THE " FOX-TROT " AFTER LUNCH 83 



next longest stalk to the dance the big switch led 

 us last year, and might almost be called my 

 " Fox Trot." Of course, Susan had been left a 

 mile away right on the top, but she rolled along in 

 very quick time, and said she had had a glorious 

 view of the whole affair through her glasses, and 

 had got frightfully excited over our race to cut 

 him off, as she could see what a near thing it would 

 be. Our prize was only a very moderate beast with 

 a very poor head, an 8-pointer weighing 13 stone, 

 but still he was a beast with horns, and he was 

 the best of the bunch ; and we had had a thrilling 

 day, and success had crowned our efforts at long, 

 long last, and so we were a merry crew for our 

 short homeward tramp. It is a sad heart that 

 never rejoices. 



And the very next day Billy Smith's rotten 

 luck turned, and he got quite a decent beast on 

 the West Hill a 10-pointer with rough, strong 

 horns, fairly long, but a very narrow spread; his 

 weight was 14 stone 8 pounds. Billy told me 

 it was a very awkward shot as the stag was at the 

 top of the steep part of the ravine, and it was so 

 steep where he was that he could not get a foot- 

 hold, and kept slipping down; and finally Stone 

 had to hold him up with his hands under his feet ! 

 However, they brought it off all right, and the 

 stag rolled down to the bottom of the ravine over 

 100 feet but luckily without injuring his horns. 

 I was so glad of Billy's success after such a heart- 



