Hoiv to walk for and shoot S^iipe, 69 



A henchman is in fact indispensable, if only 

 for the purpose of marking down birds which 

 spring when your eyes and attention are di- 

 rected elsewhere ; and if of the right sort, he 

 will not only greatly improve your sport, but 

 will supply quite enough conversation during 

 the walks from one bog to the other — the 

 only times when such a luxury as an inter- 

 change of views should be permitted. 



Some of the pleasantest men I have ever 

 met have been my servants, or rather my 

 companions, on snipe - shooting expeditions. 

 Keepers of the regulation brand do not, as 

 a rule, shine in this capacity. To begin 

 with, they are usually not more than faintly 

 interested in the sport itself. It is wet and 

 laborious, and has for its object an in- 

 significant little bird in whose abundance or 

 otherwise they, the keepers, cannot feel the 

 slightest proprietary interest. Of course there 

 are exceptions, but as a general thing a pro- 

 fessional keeper is neither so genial a com- 

 panion nor so keen to make the most of 

 chances as the stray ne'er-do-wells who hang 



