HOPES AND REALITIES. 81 



The iiioriniig came grey and sharp, as is tlu^ wont of 

 October ; a touch of frost too, which left a heavy dew on the 

 grass ere it disappeared under the sunbeams, and by six 

 o'clock we were afoot as Ave had some distance to walk ere 

 beginning our work. The guide was an old sportsman, 

 that Avas certain ; and if he acted up to his words would 

 show us plenty of game. At last we reached the place we 

 were to turn out in, a large tract of fern and heath of from 

 fifty to one hundred acres, with a few patches of stubble 

 sprinkled here and there. " That's the spot," said the 

 guide ; " if you find no game there, I'll eat you and myself 

 too." Away -went the dogs, ranging wide and wild, but 

 soon a draw ; a point ; then a draw on, and point again. 

 Before we got within a hundred yards a covey rose, flying 

 high over the hill and disappeared beyond it. In five 

 minutes after I killed a hare, and then another covey rose 

 wild also. In fact, the deuce w^as in the birds. We found 

 plenty, but lie they Avould not, and they flew as only French 

 birds can fly. For it is not as in England, where 3-our 

 covey often drops in the same ten- acre piece, or over the 

 hedge. In France, the birds throw themselves into the air 

 like carrier-pigeons, and having taken their direction, 

 stick to it for a mile or tw^o. Our guide was true to his 

 promise, to show us plenty of game, but that was all ; and, 

 after as hard a day as I ever w^alked, we only bagged 

 between us three brace of birds and a brace of hares. So 

 ended the campaign, to which we had so long looked for- 

 ward. My friend was downright savage (he had shot 

 awfully ill) ; he had promised game all round his circle, had 

 worked for it like a negro, and to get only a paltry brace ; 



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