CDe Wenslepaale Rounas Past and Present, 97 



doubted it, I was willing to back up my opinion 

 by a few bets. I made some ; and then added, 

 "I will make more that we kill twenty brace.'* 

 Two or three additional ones being made, I again 

 ventured to accept a few more, that we killed 

 twenty-five brace. 



After the drive was finished, the first two 

 guns came up to me. I asked their addition to 

 the bag. The first one said, "I fired ten shots, 

 but not a bird." The second said, "I've had nine 

 shots, with a similar result." 



This, I need scarcely add, was not their usual 

 form. If they should honour me by reading this 

 book, I feel quite sure they will remember the 

 occasion. I have always thought it was owing to 

 their over-anxiety for me to win my bets. They 

 were both good and true friends, and I am 

 pleased to add that I can still claim them as 

 such. 



The birds having been gathered, the bag 

 shewed twenty-eight-and-a-half brace — a win for 

 me all round — I then remarked, " Gentlemen, this 

 is a ready-money transaction." The bets were 



