iv Preface. 



exclaimed, " I say, what sport it would be if 

 they would only teach rat-catching at school ! 

 Wouldn't I just work hard then, that's all ! " 



The stories came to an end at bed-time, 

 and I was then pressed by my hearers to 

 write from foreign lands some more of my 

 old reminiscences, and I readily gave a 

 promise to do so. In this way most of the 

 following stories were written ; and in writing 

 them, I endeavoured to carry out the idea 

 that they were exercises to be used in 

 schools. 



I don't anticipate that head-masters will 

 very generally adopt the book in their 

 schools ; but I hope it may, in some few 

 instances, give boys a taste for a wholesome 

 country pastime. 



The characters and incidents are rough, 

 very rough, pen and ink sketches of real 

 people and scenes, and the dogs are all dear 

 friends of past days. 



