PREFACE vii 



pencil of Josepli Wolf, wliicli is n guarantee of faitiiful 

 study. 



In expeditions such as these, everything depends upon 

 the choice of a partner. In this respect I have always 

 ])cen singularly fortunate. I have taken liberties with 

 the features of some of them — l)oth my own companions, 

 and others, racy of the soil. 1 like to recall these ni}' 

 friends in association with the iucidents in which they 

 shared. To their congenial society 1 owe the chief part of 

 the brightness of those holiday hours, and if there is such 

 a thing nuwada^'s as a dedication, to them 1 hcrci*}' 

 address it. 



The tinal revision of these pages has been made under 

 the shadow of a personal calamity, which has darkened 

 my house, and with which a light-hearted volume like 

 this may seem out of keeping. But, apart from the 

 circumstance that the son whom T have lost took a keen 

 interest in its preparation, I have found it a relief from the 

 heart-ache to recur in memory to joyous labours, in some 

 of which lie was a hapjjy and strenuous participator. 



E. X. BUXTON. 



Knighton, Septemha- 189-2. 



