2 THE GREAT THIRST LAND. 



game with, the rifle when stalking is necessary, when 

 the wind has to be consulted, when every stick, stone, 

 and bush has to be utilised ; and it is in these particulars 

 that the rolling, wooded slopes of Herefordshire are as 

 nearly perfect as it is possible to imagine. Again, a 

 circumstance not to be overlooked for nought does 

 more, or has a more substantial bearing on the accumu- 

 lation of wild animals in their natural state is that in 

 every valley an abundance of water never mind how 

 long the parched and dry summer may have been is to 

 be found. I have been thus wordy ; for it is necessary 

 that the reader of the subsequent pages should know 

 exactly the sense in which I use an expression that must 

 of necessity frequently occur ; so when I speak of lands 

 or districts favourable for sport, I should like it to be 

 distinctly understood what are the characteristics of the 

 places I deem so. 



Almost three years ago, I returned from America, 

 whither I had gone to visit my old hunting-grounds, 

 to renew the scenes of my youth, and, in imagination 

 at least, perform my old exploits. Alas ! how altered, 

 how changed, had the great Western continent be- 

 come ! West, farther west, still farther west, I pushed 

 my way, but the game had gone to the spirit-land, with 

 the exception of a few patriarchal bull buffaloes, and 

 a stray antelope ; grizzly bears, where they had once 

 been numerous, had entirely disappeared, and the weird 

 voice of the wolf was unknown where for centuries 

 every rock and cranny had nightly echoed their 

 responding notes. To the lover of field-sports such 

 alterations are sad indeed ; so, wearily and sick at heart, 

 I retraced my way to the land of my childhood. 



Thus, a little over two years ago, I was to be found 



