SHOOTING AS IT WAS, AND AS IT IS. 27 



of course, fallen to my lot to have some beater or 



boy appointed to bear my spare cartridges over 



and above those I carry in a belt round my waist 



— a belt made for me by my haberdasher in the 

 country, Mr. Budden, of Wimborne, on a very 



good plan of his own. 



On returning home, I have on such occasions 



been astonished at the amount of shooting I seem 



to have had, from the diminution of ammunition, 



and have felt perfectly certain that I had never 



expended it in shots. I would, therefore, recommend 



all my friends situated as to followers, in the field 



or wood, as I am, — for I can't take mj own keeper 



from his duty, — to have the sj)are cartridge pouch 



fitted with a lock and tico keys : one key worn tied 



to the waistcoat button-hole, for immediate use, the 



other to be carried in the waistcoat-pocket in case 



of accident. The theft of cartridges first began 



among boys appointed to carry a pouch ; they stole 



them for use on the period of the Gunpowder Plot, 



and for rejoicings at Christmas, or to have a lark 



with at other times. Upon this grew a suggestion 



from poaching thieves to their sons or relations, 



that the boys should steal the cartridges for the 



powder and shot they contained, as that could be 



