THE HERON AND ITS HAUNTS 93 



farm bailiff, who was a good-hearted fellow, and in 

 comfortable circumstances. 



Many plans were made and tried, but all failed. 

 As a last resource it was suggested that this sports- 

 man should have some kind of rough shelter made, 

 and should watch for his heron all night, the bailiff, 

 nothing loth, agreeing to sit up with him there till 

 eleven o'clock, the moon being full and bright. A 

 square dumpy bottle, holding a quart and hailing 

 from Holland, together with some first-rate tobacco 

 that had come with it, which the enthusiast had pro- 

 mised to supply, probably made the companionship 

 a congenial one. Near midnight the bailiff took his 

 departure, after shaking hands with our friend many 

 times over, remarking as he did so that the moon 

 twinkled a goodish bit, and things looked hazy round 

 about. * Steady does it, old boy, steady does it. 

 When he comes, hold your powder straight an' 

 knock him over. Steady does it, old boy. Good- 

 night ! Good-night ! ' 



Early in the morning the heron passed overhead 

 and settled on the opposite side of the small pond, 

 almost in front of the sportsman. It ought not to 

 have been very hard to hit the bird ; but the contents 

 of that queer-shaped bottle, or may be only the ex- 

 citement of the moment, made his hand shake, and 



