122 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR 



I," said the farmer; " but the Captain wins, and no one else, for a 

 pound." 



Were it necessary to shew the Captain's devotion to hunting, the 

 following fact would be sufficient. The last time I saw him out, he 

 told me that he was severely attacked by gout at three o'clock that 

 morning ; but, determined to hunt, he had taken two strong calomel 

 pills, sixty drops of colchicum, on the top of which he put a glass 

 of hot gin and water on his road to covert, " to keep things in their 

 places." 



Although Captain Bridges resides at the Hermitage, he does not 

 live the life of a hermit, being what the world calls, " a jolly good 

 fellow ; " and I have reason to believe that in these shady groves the 

 nightingale oftener hears the Captain than the Captain hears the 

 nightingale. Captain Bridges is all fun and good humour, and 

 strongly reminds me of the lines of the Poet — 



" And sure there seem of human kind 



Some born to shuu the common strife ; 

 Some for amusive tasks designed, 

 To sooth the various ills of life." 



