Long Tails and Short Ones. 73 



Having had a pretty good day, I stood and delivered to the tune of half 

 a sov. to our friend Johnson. I have a sort of rule in this department: when 

 we kill fifty or sixty head, I think 5«. enough for the keeper, when we 

 progress towards one hundred head I make it 10s., two hundred head and 

 over 11., and that I never exceed, under any circumstances, and I think 

 those who do are very foolish for their pains. No doubt men will pay 

 to get warm corners, but I don't think it is fair to the other guns, and 

 were I the owner of fine coverts I should put a stop to it by taking it 

 into my own hands to place, as well as to select, the guns instead of leaving 

 it to the keeper. 



" You want two guns at the end, eh, Johnson ? Mr. Smith, Mr. Brown, 

 will you go to the end ; you wUl have a warm time there presently." And 

 the next time I should send Mr. Jones and Mr. Robinson, then Mr. Walker 

 and Mr. Thomson, until each had had his share. It is quite right that 

 the keeper should be encouraged, and a gratuity of some three or four 

 week's wages in a day's shooting, is very decent encouragement according 

 to my way of thinking. 



Keepers, too, have too much to say in respect to the making up of parties 

 to shoot. 



" Johnson, I must have a party to shoot on Wednesday, I think I'll have 

 Mr. Brown and Mr. Smith." 



'* Well, sir, Mr. Brown shoots tidyish ; but Mr. Smith, he can't shoot 

 a bit !" 



" Really ? " 



" No ; I don't think he be much use." 



" Well, then, Mr. Thomson ? " 



"Mr. Thomson's a pretty shot, sir, very." 



" Well, then, there's Walker : Mr. Tom Walker ? " 



" Bio wed two birds aU to bits last time he M^as here, sir ; I'd 

 rayther he'd shoot hard and miss 'em altogether, like Mr. Smith, than 

 do that — he's a dreadful jealous shot, and I can't abear a jealous 

 shot." 



" Nor I. Then there's, &c., &c." 



The whole of which means that Brown and Thomson came down with 



