BIG GAME 75 



may subsequently have achieved as a hunter, 

 are largely due to the practical instruction that 

 I received at my uncle's hands. It was under 

 his tuition that I learnt to distinguish the 

 various tracks made by every species of living 

 creature, and the peculiar sounds by means of 

 which they indicate their presence. After any 

 slight fall of snow he would lead me into the 

 garden at Biffin Grange, and explain the 

 logical system which enabled him to differen- 

 tiate between the '•^,„*»^ of Jet (his 

 favourite spaniel), the more deeply marked 

 ^•'-^ *^ -. of my aunt's goloshes, and the 



xnistakable ii||i|ii of the garden roUer; 

 and he spent many hours teaching me to imi- 

 tate the shrill \^^ | of the squirrel calling 



p.'f»-p.|^' 



to its mate, the blatant — I' 71 -- ] of the 



^^ 



domestic sow, and the plaintive 





of the local water-carrier going his morning 

 rounds. 



I frequently accompanied Sir Noel on the 

 long walks which he was accustomed to take 



