PREFACE. 



PERHAPS this book or at all events, as much 

 thereof as relates to the rifle would have been better 

 named "The Confessions of an Indifferent Shot," but 

 I have suppressed the record of many misses to avoid 

 monotony. Still, as any interest the work may have 

 must lie in the fact that it consists entirely of personal 

 reminiscences, the mention of many instances when 

 my bullet found its billet in mother earth could not 

 be avoided. 



It may be objected, and perhaps with reason, that 

 in these days when every year sees the publication of 

 books by great shikaris, describing unfamiliar sport in 

 unknown lands, mine is but a commonplace record of 

 such sport as comes in the way of hundreds of English 

 soldiers. From my own experience I can urge, how- 

 ever, that a very small percentage of them avail 

 themselves of such opportunities, whereas I would 

 claim whatever credit may be due to one who never 

 failed to make use of any chance that want of means, 



