Past and Present loi 



appeared on the top of Nouglitberry Hill, over- 

 looking the shooting box, and what was infinitely 

 mnch worse, in view of the butts over which the 

 birds were being driven. Some of the guns were 

 terribly rough on him, for — as they termed it — 

 his interfering with the drive, and causing the 

 grouse to swerve. He was so much upset about 

 it that immediately after luncheon he turned 

 towards home. Noticing this, I jocularly said, 

 "Never mind, there has often been a much worse 

 mishap. Come with me into my butt, and I'll 

 let you see me kill every bird." He did ; and, 

 most fortimately I fulfilled my promise by killing 

 •eleven birds consecutively. He then went home 

 in a much happier mood, and many a time have 

 I been told of his narrating this in after years. 



He was a very kind friend to me, and gave 

 me full permission to shoot and fish over his 

 property whenever I liked. He entertained a 

 very high opinion of me as a shot. Well, he 

 might have been further wrong, for in those days, 

 I think I may safely assert that in the best of 

 company I could hold my own ; and so I ought, 



