316 ACCESSIBLE FIELD SPORTS 



The horses were ordered to be in readiness after 

 breakfast ; buck-shot and bullets were hunted out, 

 shooting boots greased, and ' baccy and pocket pistols 

 loaded to the neck and stuffed in our saddle bags. A 

 hard day we knew to be before us, so ample justice was 

 done to our meal ; for, gentlemen sportsmen, rely upon 

 what I say, nothing so materially assists to withstand 

 fatigue and cold as an ample breakfast. 



A ride of about five miles took us to our ground, 

 but our horses were fresh, and we impatient to be at 

 work, consequently the distance was soon traversed, 

 and we dismounted in a grove of saplings, well suited 

 to hitch to and shelter the nags from the wintry 

 blast. 



While we are performing the necessary operation of 

 loading, a description of our armament will not be 

 inappropriate, Will, or so I'll call him, had an old, 

 uncouth rifle, which, although possessed of no finish, 

 could shoot " plumb centre/' with the old-fashioned, 

 double trigger, the second to set the hair-spring, an 

 invention I had seldom previously seen and never 

 used ; while I myself had my trusty double- barrel 

 ten-bore, which, from long experience and association, 

 I was aware had only to be held straight to do correct 

 work. 



A large swamp, about half a mile off, was a favourite 



