184 KRIDER'S SPORTING ANECDOTES. 



It behooves the sportsman to make sure that 

 no one but the pilot and game-bearer, who, by 

 the way, should never be permitted to take a gun 

 with him to the field, under any pretence what- 

 ever insinuates himself into the party. If it 

 originally consists of four, it must of course be 

 divided, as two men are enough to hunt in com- 

 pany over any cultivated country. It was our 

 fortune once, while shooting in an adjoining 

 state, to be joined by a party of country gentle- 

 men, to the number of six or seven, who, heaven 

 reward their kindness, though it certainly was 

 misplaced had turned out in sporting trim to 

 honor our advent. Besides Czar and Dash, we 

 received a reinforcement of two fox-hounds, one 

 terrier, one shock-dog, four nondescript curs and 

 one poodle a very respectable pack, each and 

 all in good condifion, and eager, like their mas- 

 ters, to take the field. The pointer snuffed 

 around this motley crowd with high-bred scorn, 

 and the setter, being younger, did not attempt to 

 conceal his chagrin, but bristled his back and 

 showed his white teeth at each of his strange 

 field mates in turn. However, there was nothing 

 else for it, and out we went to the stubbles at 

 seven in the morning, the curs, of course, taking 

 the lead. A covey of birds were speedily found 



