260 MELTON AND HOMESPUN 



thatched homestead which was to form our headquarters 

 during the next two days. 



Assembled in the sparsely furnished sitting-room, the 

 wainscoted walls of which were decorated with fear- 

 some specimens of the taxidermist's art, were assembled 

 my fellow guests in the shape of the vicar of the parish, 

 the local doctor, and a brace of rosy-gilled, well-fed 

 yeomen discussing the prospects of sport on the morrow 

 over a pipe and a gouty-looking decanter of Scotch 

 whisky. 



Now, the sleeping accommodation at the homestead 

 was decidedly limited, while Bailiff Toogood's family 

 was, to say the least of it, numerous. The three younger 

 members of our " stag party," including myself, were 

 therefore " picqueted " on good Witney blankets and 

 sweet wheat-straw, in a roomy octagonal granary, which 

 the worthy bailiff warranted to be free from rats and other 

 vermin, while our host, the parson, and one of the before- 

 mentioned yeomen, being of more mature years, elected 

 to shake down in the sitting-room. 



By the time the improvised beds were prepared for 

 occupation, the last fiery spears of the setting sun were 

 beginning to disappear below the horizon, and, every 

 man being eager to score his first pink-footed goose of 

 the season, the guns (three I2's, one 10, and a single 

 8-bore) were put together, and we posted ourselves at 

 intervals of about ninety yards along the high sea-wall, 

 which faced the North Sea. 



As luck had it, the piercing north-easterly wind not 

 only came in direct from the main, but blew with half- 

 gale strength, which augured well for both an easy and 

 a low flight. 



