60 Sporting Sketches 



Rond Eau, though still affording a certain amount 

 of shooting, has been practically ruined. 



For plover, curlew, and kindred varieties, the best 

 season for sport was toward the close of May. 

 " Black-hearts " and such feathered dainties usually 

 put in an appearance about the twenty-fourth of that 

 month, and a week of capital shooting was almost 

 certain to follow. A description of one of many 

 outings at the Eau will illustrate the fun we had. 



Larry a comrade for the trip in question and 

 I were bank clerks then, and enjoyed few holidays. 

 On the twenty-third of May we held earnest confer- 

 ence. The twenty-fourth was the late Queen's birth- 

 day and a national holiday, when no good Canadian 

 would deign to toil at any price, or do aught save 

 what pleased him best. 



We decided to drive twelve miles or more, to the 

 bar of Rond Eau harbor, and see and shoot what 

 was visible and shootable while going, while there, 

 and while returning. The road thither was in ex- 

 cellent condition ; so a trap was ordered for some 

 time before daylight, and other preparations were 

 speedily completed. We started at gray dawn. In 

 the trap were the twelve-gauges, securely cased in 

 oak and sole leather, respectively ; a bag of oats for 

 our steed ; a plentiful supply of grub and shells for 

 ourselves, and our waders and oilskins. Luckily we 

 were given a good nag that pulled us along at a 

 spanking clip. 



What a drive that was ! Two weary drudges let 

 loose for one brief day to revel as they pleased ! It 

 was a perfect May morning, a*nd we bowled along 

 between farms apparently unending, where vaguely 



