TEE DUCKS. 219 



As for the woodcock, on whose behalf the expedition 

 had been undertaken, there were not enough guns to do 

 them justice. We wanted some outside the copse to inter- 

 view Scolopax rusticula as he flitted from one shelter to 

 another ; but still we got an occasional glimpse at a retiring 

 form clad in autumn russet, and in the majority of cases, 

 if the chance was anything like fair, the bird was accounted 

 for with little delay. A lordly cock pheasant rose near the 

 laird, and was skilfully grassed by him ere the noisy bird 

 had topped the neighbouring oak trees. Directly after this 

 1 managed to stop off my left shoulder a hare which was 

 apparently starting for a journey to the other end of the 

 kingdom, just as I was in the agonies of struggling through 

 a holly hedge. 



This lent variety to the bag, and was the last shot of 

 a pleasant, if not very productive, day. We walked to the 

 lodge, whose gates opened upon the high road, and, having 

 warmed ourselves at the gallant blaze burning in the open 

 hearth, were about to mount the dogcart for home, when 

 there came the sound of bells outside, and a minute after in 

 rushed Miss Mary. " Oh, papa ! " she said to the laird, 

 " you must forgive me for coming without asking you, but 

 it is going to be such a beautiful night, and Madge and 

 I couldn't resist the temptation of bringing the sledge for 

 you instead of allowing you to drive home in the stupid old 

 dogcart outside ! " 



The culprits were forgiven, and soon my entertainer was 

 seated in front of a smart Canadian sledge, one of his 

 daughters beside him, while I, having refused to take the 

 reins, occupied a back seat with the other young lady, an 

 arrangement much to my satisfaction, since I was allowed 

 to light a meerschaum and keep my hands under cover of 

 the heavy fur rug. 



Sardanapalus offered half a year's revenue for a new 

 pleasure ! Did he ever try sleighing on a moonlight night ? 

 It is most delightful and novel. Not a sound broke the 



