GROUSING 29 



first-class sportsmen, and although someone sings "a merry 

 heart goes all the day," the duration of the merriment must 

 ever depend on the absence of fatigue ; but whoever the 

 shooter may be, let it be impressed on him not to overdo 

 it at starting if he is not quite fit ; best for him to begin 

 late, or stop early, or rest for two hours in the middle of 

 the day — and short rests are of but little use to the really 

 tired man — than to come home beaten to a standstill, for 

 likely enough that will unfit him for enjoyment for some days 

 to come. No one can show his best form with the gun 

 when really tired, for hand and eye cease to work as one, 

 and plenty of birds, and easy chances too, will escape from 

 an A I shot when he is leg- weary and exhausted. 



For the first few weeks of the season take the moor in 

 light marching order. A suit of thin tweeds, a flannel shirt 

 with nothing under it, light shoes with plenty of nails, and 

 thin spats over them, is the most comfortable attire, while the 

 old-fashioned knickers are far preferable to the smarter-looking 

 knicker-breeches, which must always tighten on the knee or the 

 back of the calf in going up a steep hill-side. Blisters may 

 be set at defiance by scraping some soap off a tablet and 

 plastering it on the stocking over the spot where tenderness 

 is dreaded ;* if, however, a raw be once established which is 

 not covered by the sole of the shoe, take a sharp knife and 

 cut a good big hole out of the leather that covers the sore 

 place, when with the pressure removed it will quickly heal, 

 even while the wearer is out daily. In very cold or snowy 

 weather some sportsmen smear the feet over with vaseline, 

 and vow that the application keeps them warm all day ; but 

 those who are gouty or suffer from eczema should not try 

 this, as it has a tendency to produce a rash. Personally we 

 have never found any advantage in it, and the " coldest-toed " 

 day we ever passed was when trying the experiment under 

 wading trousers one February. Since it has become the 



* Vinolia shaving cream is very good for this purpose. 



