110 AMID THE HIGH HILLS 
The mist, which had temporarily lifted, now came 
down again thicker than ever, and the stalker said 
that we should have an awful job to get the stag 
down, as it was a heavy one, and the ground was 
very awkward. We gralloched the stag, and took 
out the heart and liver in order to make him as 
light as possible, and then set to work to get the 
stag down. This was a very heavy job, and I 
could not help thinking, as I had often thought 
before, what an excellent thing it would be if 
every one who is going to stalk, whether pro- 
prietor, tenant, or guest, were obliged some time 
or other to take part in dragging a stag to the 
place where he is to be put on the pony, and 
help in putting him on the pony. We succeeded 
at last in getting the stag down, and the stalker 
then arranged to wait on the pony path lower 
down, in order to meet old Angus and the pony 
boy, who would be bringing the first stag I had 
shot and the ponies. I took my rifle, the luncheon 
bag, and the sticks and glasses, and struck across 
the hill for the lodge. On my way down I began 
to speculate as to the age of the two old stags I 
had shot that day, and came to the conclusion that 
they were probably not less than fourteen or 
fifteen years old. The old Gaelic saying, which 
