20 CONVERSATIONAL HINTS 



Third Sportsman (choking with laughter at the 

 recollection). I saw you go down, old cock. First 

 go off, I thought you were hit ; but, when you got 

 that old face of yours up, and began to holler 

 ' Wor guns ! ' as if you meant to burst, why I jolly 

 soon knew there wasn't much the matter with you. 

 Just look at him, you chaps. Do you think an 

 ordinary charge of shot would go through that? 

 Not likely. 



Fourth Sportsman (military man). Gad, it was 

 awful! I'd rather be bucketed about by Evelyn 

 Wood for a week than face another woodcock. I 

 heard 'em shoutin', ' Woodcock forward ! Wood- 

 cock back ! Woodcock to the right ! Woodcock to 

 the left ! Mark mark ! ' Gad ! thinks I to myself, 

 the bally place must be full of 'em. Just then out 

 he came, as sly as be blowed. My old bundook 

 went off of its own accord. I bagged the best part 

 of an oak tree, and, after that, I scooted. Things 

 were gettin' just a shade too warm, by gad ! A 

 reg'lar hail-storm, that's what it was. No, thank 

 you, thinks I ; not for this party I'm off to cover. 

 So that's all I know about it. Thanks, Tommy- 

 do you mind handin' round that beer -jug ? 



First Sportsman (rallying him). Just think of 



