ROMEO AND JULIET, ETC. 217 



is large-souled with potting a buck to-day. One must 

 be cautious of his Honour for a while." 



" Don't be jealous, small boy," Ward said ; "your 

 luck will come at Dunesk." 



" I hope it may ; but to-day when I heard the 

 shouts of 'Mark roe,' I was so awfully shaky that 

 they would have got away scot-free had they come 

 my way." 



" Oh, never fear; a roe is a big mark, and when 

 you get a chance at one just you snap shoot at him 

 with both barrels. I'll back you to scare beg 

 pardon no, to secure him, Freddy." 



The brief time we had yet to remain soon passed 

 away, and much as before as regarded shooting, 

 excepting certain days devoted exclusively to driving 

 and thinning down mountain hares, which, when too 

 numerous, are very detrimental to the hill pasturage. 

 So, in having the sport we also did duty for the 

 benefit of the sheep-farms, and distributed the hares 

 amongst the neighbours. The great beats for moun- 

 tain hares are generally made in winter and early 

 spring at that time they are pure white and in 

 highest condition ; but we made the best of circum- 

 stances, and were very successful. Grouse and black 

 game had now become scarce and harder to come at, 



