n8 GUN, RIFLE, AND HOUND. 



True enough, he had hardly finished speaking 

 when the bird came up with the ridiculous bob peculiar 

 to diving water-fowl. 



" Well, it must be further than I thought," ad- 

 mitted the astonished cleric; "but I'm sure it isn't 

 as far as you say. My left barrel is full choke, and 

 that will reach it." 



So saying, he fired again with exactly the same 

 result. Again and again he fired, aiming a long way 

 over the bird. We could see the shot strike many 

 feet beyond now, and were in fits of suppressed 

 laughter. At last the parson gave it up, but I don't 

 suppose he knows to this day why he didn't hit that 

 dabchick. 



We now betook ourselves again to the serious 

 business of the day, still remaining "on the spot." 

 Consequently few broods got up without paying toll 

 to the extent of three or four birds. As we passed 

 a small pool on the moor a duck got up, flying back. 

 I was shooting with a 2obore, so although it was a 

 long shot I took it. The first barrel only feathered 

 her, but she dropped dead to the second. The keeper 

 paced it, eighty yards to where she dropped, but I 

 don't think she fell quite straight. 



" Aweel," he said, " I wad hae bet a thoosan' 

 poonds agin that shot." 



I wondered who would have taken him. 



" Jack," I said presently, " I am lucky to-day. I 

 don't believe I have put up my gun without killing 

 with one or other barrel." 



I was going down a marshy bit by a dyke as I 



