128 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC 



by a stentorian voice wanting to know who 

 gave me authority to shoot his birds. 

 " Your birds ! " I replied. " This is the first 

 time I knew or heard the fowl on the North- 

 West prairies belonged to any particular 

 individual until they were shot." "Well, 

 sir," he replied very moderately, "I claim 

 that any and all birds that are found within the 

 limits of my lines belong to me." " Are you 

 a sportsman yourself ? If so, I will not shoot 

 at any more." " No," he replied, " I never 

 fired a gun, but preserve the birds for my 

 sporting friends from Calgary." " Well, then, 

 have a brace of my chickens for your dinner. 

 I'll have all I want by the time I get home." 

 This generosity on my part struck the right 

 chord, and was in line with the sentiment, 

 " Throw a sprat to catch a mackerel," for the 

 English gentleman, for such he was, persuaded 

 me to go to his house and partake of lunch 

 a most generous repast, which my appetite, 

 then keen, fully appreciated. He then showed 

 me round the place, and we separated with 

 the wish that I might have fine sport in the 

 afternoon, and the assurance that I was 

 always welcome to shoot on his grounds, so I 



