SEAFOWL SHOOTING SKETCHES. 3. 



the bird down very neatly, much to our surprise and his own 

 gratification. Unfortunately, the gull was not dead, and managed 

 to swim over some shallows, where our boat could not follow. 



Whether it was joy at hitting the bird, or sorrow at. losing it, 

 I could not tell, but G., immediately the affair was over, applied 

 himself to his bottle, and kept pretty constantly at it for the rest 

 of the day. I shot a purre, and my brother killed a gull, after 

 which we returned to shore for dinner. We enjoyed a well-earned 

 meal r had a smoke, and then discovered, to our disgust, that it 

 was raining heavily. However, as we had come so far for our 

 sport, and had only the single day at liberty, we determined to 

 go on. 



Replenishing our flasks with the best Scotch, we set out to 

 walk up the river bank, meeting by the way a couple of fellow 

 townsmen, likewise on sport intent. With mutual good wishes 

 we parted, they to dine, we to shoot. 



At that time there was a pretty good marsh not very far from 

 the station, but since transformed into a dock or docks. Well, 

 we wandered over this marsh, and, to make sure of the gun 

 going off, I shot a couple of -small waders, preparatory to a 

 more careful loading. The rain was still coming down steadily, 

 and seeing nothing else in range, I stalked a large flock of 

 starlings. They rose rather wild, and I only picked up six for 

 both barrels. 



Meanwhile, my brother and G. were having a good time of it 

 with a lot of other small fry. I got on the embankment of the 

 old railway, which formerly ran along the edge of the water, but 

 seeing nothing but purres, &c., I deemed it advisable to seek 

 shelter from the steady downpour. Accordingly, I struck across 

 the marsh, and came to a deserted hut near a brickfield, and 

 getting under the partial protection of the eaves, charged and 

 lit my pipe. As I was wet through, I thought a drop of Scotch 

 would be the best thing under the circumstances, and accordingly 

 felt for the flask. Imagine my dismay when I could not find it. 

 It was quite another damper. At this moment I heard a shrill 

 call, and, looking up, there were half-a-dozen red-shanks whirling 

 by. I threw the gun up, and when well to the front pulled, and 

 down one came with a broken wing. The second barrel, fired 

 at a great distance, was a miss. Picking up the bird, I resumed 

 my watch, but nothing in range parsed by, though I could hear 

 birds calling all round, and also the repeated reports of my 

 brother's gun. 



At length he and G. made their appearance, both very wet, and 

 appearing not to care a rap for the rain. Close to the hut they 

 halted, and whilst my brother charged the gun, G. stood by 

 gravely watching, and applying a different kind of charge to 

 his own muzzle. When they got up to me I was shivering with 



