SHOOTIJ^G A FUENCIIMAN. 377 



to lae, happened in the covers of a noble lord, who 

 had invited a French diplomatist to shoot with him. 

 The host was near sighted, and shot in spectacles, 

 while the guest, taking a hint from the garments in 

 which in Paris, artists love to depict John Bull, came 

 dressed in white cords and very tight red leather 

 gaiters. The woods were being driven, and the host 

 and his iruest stood ao;ainst trees on the eclire of the 

 rides, within shot of each other, standing a little 

 within the bushes to leave the ride open for a shot ; 

 and thus they stood for some time, ere the beaters or 

 the game approached — long enough, it would appear, 

 for the noble lord to forget the precise position of his 

 friend. 



Tired with waiting, and to amuse himself, or per- 

 haps actuated by a little pardonable vanity, the 

 Frenchman began to admire his gaiter, and to thrust 

 forth the goodly limb which the verge of the more 

 open ride displayed to better advantage. The noble 

 lord was aroused from his reverie by the appearance 

 of something red on the edge of the cover, which he 

 took for a hare, and as it appeared and disappeared 

 occasionally, as the Frenchman changed the attitude, 

 the host's spectacles were soon adjusted, and his gun 

 levelled for the next appearance. Out came the leg 

 again, bang went the gun, and with a shout the 

 Frenchman sprang into view, with half a dozen sl.ot 

 lodged in the deceiving limb. 



Men who are nervous and fidgetty, and who on 

 that account will not be still at places where they 

 are desired to stand, are for ever getting into danger. 

 A very good illustration of this was aiForded by my 

 worthy friend Mr. Minasi, who was always under the 

 idea that he was likely to be shot. We were posted 



