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washing through the grass barely 75yards away. For a moment I was too excited & bewildered to do any cool thinking - in fact I first thought it a kind of buffalo. No one would fire a shot since a stray hunter masked our fire. Then I called him to drop flat & went into action. The distance increased between the stag & ourselves to quite 150 yds - then it fell cleanly. A shot from my rifle struck a vital spot & a .303 had found its mark also. The boys had followed us in the dash & asked in all innocence, "A lion Kaubada"?
Since my boys come from the --- Division this was their first sight of deer. The deer must have weighed fully 3cwt. I had not spent my youth in carving up bacon for nothing so I spent two hours skinning & cutting off the choice venison. The hide proved to be useless as the hair was falling out. Burdened with nearly 100lbs of meat we made for camp well pleased with our good fortune. One leg was duly presented to the Officers Mess & the remainder to the boys. I had no idea venison had such a fine flavour. It's totally superior to mutton. The antlers were to become a trophy for our mess.
I have my unifor on order - it has been promised for next week. So soon as it arrives I'll have that portrait taken you I promised.
A bush fire nearly trapped me through the week. I had taken three boys on a journey away into the interior & was crossing a wide valley when it happened. Grass fires are so numerous the familiarity had bred contempt. This one deceived me in its frontage. The Trades freshened & sent the flame along