200 THE SPORT OF KINGS 



thinks very truly, that he can walk with the guns, 

 and that by dint of practice he may be able to do 

 something in the way of knocking over his share 

 of rabbits and even an old rocketer. So he 

 straightway looks out for a shooting, and he is not 

 very long in finding one. Now our typical shooting 

 tenant may not be possessed of any accurate know- 

 ledge of woodcraft, but he has strongly developed 

 what, for the want of a better phrase, I will call 

 the instincts of woodcraft. Though he recognises 

 that he is not able to "join the glad throng that 

 goes laughing along " in pursuit of that noble 

 animal the fox, the memory of that happy day five- 

 and-thirty years ago, when he went so well on 

 that rough-coated shaggy pony of his farmer rela- 

 tive, is still with him, and he recognises quite as 

 clearly that he must preserve foxes for his neigh- 

 bours. So he says to his keeper, " No fox, no 

 Cox," and the result is that he has both foxes and 

 pheasants. What can be more enjoyable than to 

 be an honoured guest at one of his shooting parties, 

 unless it is to be one at the lawn meet of the 

 county pack at his hospitable house. On the 

 former occasion you can shoot till you are tired ; 

 pheasants and hares and rabbits are all round you, 

 and there is a noble bag to contemplate at the end 

 of the day, for this kind of shooting tenant invites 

 men who can " hold straight." Of the creature 

 comforts I will not speak, for they are sure to be 

 of the best. And when there is a lawn meet you 

 know that it is not like some lawn meets you wot 

 of ; it is not merely show and parade. The grin 

 of delight on the face of the huntsman as he tastes 

 the cherry brandy handed to him, and gives ex- 

 pression to the hope that " they'll find one to give 



