CHANCE SHOTS AND ODD FISH. 229 



the lads with guns that had come from their 

 own homes. 



These bird -shooters were not taken at random 

 for the job; some small amount of diplomacy 

 would be used beforehand about the matter. First 

 the master or one of his sons would inquire in a 

 very quiet fashion if any of the young ones had 

 a hankering after a gun, which inquiry generally 

 brought out the information that two or three on 

 'em had got some most " owdacious larruppings " 

 for meddling with their parent's guns. As these 

 " larruppings " were of a severe character, the very 

 fact of a boy's running the risk of one to gratify his 

 ruling passion proved beyond doubt their mother's 

 assertions that the young rips had " got it in 'em." 

 One by one, under some plausible pretext or other, 

 the rips would be asked to attend one of their 

 masters with his gun, a light single one, round 

 ' the farm. After a shot or two, the lad would be 

 asked if he would like to have a shot at a bird. 



" I should, jest about, Master Ned. Jest you let 

 me hev a go at a sparrer." 



" A sparrow, you young varmint ! why, you couldn't 

 shoot into a barn if the doors were kept open for ye." 



