60 AN OLD SPORTSMAN. 



or, as we used to call it, the beat for the day. 

 A good deal would depend upon the weather 

 as to the direction to be taken. For instance, 

 if it rained hard over night, the upper slopes of 

 the mountain would be patronized by whole 

 platoons of snipe from the bogs ; if there was 

 a stiff frost, the lower lands and wet ditches 

 would be the quarters selected. This is the 

 sort of scene that usually took place : 



[A small but snugly furnished room, with a 

 blazing turfjire on the hearth. Uncle Joe, a 

 grizzlikl, open-countenanced veteran, as strong as 

 a horse, with a round bullet head and a clear 

 hazel eye, is demolishing eggs, for which he had 

 a huge appetite, with extraordinary gusto and 

 perseverance. His nephew, the present writer, is 

 taking the post from Jack Sullivan, who has 

 brought it from the gossoon despatched every day 

 to the village for letters. Jack waits to get his 

 orders for the day.'] 



" Is it < Flirt' an' < Don' ye'll take out wid 

 ye, master ?" 



" No, Jack ; I think we'd better bring the 

 young bitch with old Don ; she wants to be 



