PREFACE. 



" ' Why have you not written a book about your sporting 

 adventures?'" is a question often asked me by my friends 

 when they were looking over my sketch books and I was 

 describing the various scenes. But book writing is not my 

 forte and I have not the slightest pretension to any literary 

 talent. However, during my long illness the subject was 

 again pressed upon me, and I have put together the following 

 pages, extracts from my journals, and have selected from my 

 sketches those which would best illustrate the scenes and 

 adventures described. I am writing of years long gone by 

 when the muzzle loader, with all its drawbacks, was the chief 

 weapon in use." 



I found the above portion of an unfinished preface 

 amongst my brother's papers. I have endeavoured to carry 

 out his wishes by publishing his notes almost precisely as 



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