CHANCE SHOTS AND ODD FISH. 235 



away in company, without having been found. If 

 the mistress could find him a trug he would bring 

 them in, there was such a lot of them ! 



This illustrates the feeling that used to exist be- 

 tween the employer and the employed ; the people 

 about the farms helped to protect what was on them. 

 If, in a case such as I have mentioned, something a 

 little out of the usual routine was required, it was 

 freely asked for, and as freely granted. For in those 

 days of sturdy independence and self-respect, a 

 master knew that if a man asked a favour from him 

 he needed it. 



Rough-shooting, so called to distinguish it from 

 cover-shooting, has a charm above any others for 

 those who have been used to it. Where game was 

 not strictly preserved, rough-shooting was the order 

 of the day in our North Kent districts ; for every 

 man shot on his own grounds or on those he rented, 

 and at times he freely invited his friends to come 

 with him : one condition only had to be remembered, 

 no hares were to be shot ; they were left for coursing. 



The partridges, owing to the great extent of their 

 feeding-grounds, were very strong on the wing, and, 

 as a rule, wild as hawks at certain seasons. What 



