2 FACT AGAINST FICTION. 



haste, and nfurious desire to let off the barrels of three 

 double guns as fast as they can be handed to you 

 and you can pull the trigger, so that there may 

 be no cessation of noise, headache, tobacco-smoke, 

 and folly. 



In the olden time, two sportsmen went out in 

 company, attended by one keeper to carry the bag, 

 and, perhaps, by a brace of setters, pointers, or 

 spaniels, as the case might be. 



Each sportsman carried a gun, and loaded it 

 when discharged. There was no undue haste. If 

 a winged bird of any sort fell, time was accorded 

 for a minute search, and scarce anything was ever 

 lost. Setter, pointer, or spaniel, did all that was 

 required in retrieving stricken or running game, 

 and a large black dog, of the Newfoundland cross, 

 often miscalled ^^ a retriever," was neither known 

 nor wanted. 



In the present day, from three to six or ten 

 gunners sally forth together, no earthly thing in 

 their heads but one of the two or three guns that 

 are carried at their tails. They have a man or two 

 behind them to load and hand their guns as fast 

 as they can discharge them, and not one of these 

 modern sj)ortsmen ever think of picking up a dead 



