1 64 WITHIN AN HOUR OF LONDON TOWN. 



All this is for the love of sport, the money 

 is a very secondary matter. Well, there is good 

 comradeship at such times. If the cry for help 

 is heard, rest assured it will be responded to ; 

 for they have bold brave hearts. But if it be too 

 late, the next day, or the day after, according to 

 the state of the wind and tide, the unlucky fowler 

 " comes ashore," as they term it. 



The gale has lasted for two days. High rough 

 tides have rushed up the creeks and gullies from the 

 open sea, bringing up sea-weeds and fish which have 

 their usual habitat in deep water, far out. The fowl 

 have been flitting now here, now there, wherever 

 they could get grass to feed on. It has been far too 

 rough for a boat for fowling purposes, even in the 

 sheltered creek; and it is madness to aim at fowl 

 from a punt or skiff when the bow is playing seesaw, 

 now up, now down. Now, however, the gale is over. 

 The tide will be flowing up at flight-time, glorious 

 news for the fowlers, of which they will certainly take 

 advantage. I have been watching the fowl all day, 

 and my eyes ache. The salt spindrift is still in the 

 the air, and gathers on one's field-glasses. It must 

 be borne in mind that the very best binoculars will 



