68 SEAFOWL SHOOTING SKETCHES. 



Shortly afterwards a good covey of partridge got up wild, 

 but we marked them down in a lane. I opened the gate and 

 walked up to the place. The birds rose within nice range, but 

 I missed with the first barrel. With the second, however, keep- 

 ing on the same bird, I dropped him just as he topped the hedge. 

 What a welcome sight the small cloud of feathers was, floating 

 above the fence. Retrieving the bird, we went on, and I had 

 several shots, killing a brace more. 



After luncheon, I went out with one man only, and got another 

 partridge, missing a snipe which got up from a pit ; with No. 

 5's I bagged three hares. One of the latter got under a bush, 

 and then there was a most unsportsmanlike race between self, 

 the man, and the dog. We reached the place simultaneously 

 almost ; the canine, however, had rather the advantage, and 

 grabbing the hare stuck like wax, and it was with some difficulty 

 we could induce him to let go while we administered the " coup 

 de grace " to the poor hare. The dog slunk away with his tail 

 drooping, and was remarkably quiet the rest of the day. I 

 finished by missing a partridge with both barrels, having, con- 

 trary to the man's advice, approached it in the face of the sun. 

 As I got seven head out of fourteen fired at I had not done very 

 badly. 



After tea the man accompanied me to the station. I stood him 

 a farewell drink, and leturned home, very well pleased with my 

 out. 



Not having seen my friend Robert for some time it was with 

 a very pleasant sensation that I received late one October his 

 cordial invitation for a day's grouse shooting. I packed up gun 

 and cartridges, and taking the train from Preston arrived in 

 Oldham on the Friday evenig at half-past six, and, after calling 

 on a few friends, duly turned up at my host's house, accom- 

 panied by one of my brothers. We sat talking, smoking, and 

 generally refreshing until a late hour. 



At seven o'clock in the morning we got aboard the conveyance, 

 along with Robert's father, Mr. Seville, Mr. Hulme, and two 

 other gentlemen, making in all a party of seven. We had a pair 

 of good horses in front of us, and the morning being clear the 

 drive up to the moors was very enjoyable. Some of the party 

 played cards on the way, but as I never would learn that ac- 

 complishment I was content with admiring the scenery and 

 consuming tobacco. We saw plenty of grouse, and Robert and 

 self having established ourselves beside the driver, were fully 

 able to appreciate the charms of the heathery moors and the keen, 

 fresh morning breeze. We arrived at the keeper's house, " Isle 

 of Skye," before nine, and after partaking of a slight repast, set 

 out for the batteries, having drawn cuts for places whilst in the 

 conveyance. 



