SHOOTING TENANTS 207 



tired and happy, always taking care to leave a hare 

 or a brace of birds behind him. This class of 

 shooting tenant, when a good fellow, affords one 

 of the happiest phases of country life. But when, 

 as happens sometimes, this class of shooting tenant 

 chances to be a wrong 'un, there is no one such a 

 wrong 'un as he, and no one so arrogant. 



He goes to look at a shooting which he thinks 

 will suit, and may be safely depended that in mak- 

 ing his bargain he will carefully look after his own 

 interests. Once entered in possession of the shoot- 

 ing, it may be pretty readily conjectured that he 

 will not be long before he has raised the ire of the 

 agricultural tenant. He affects dogs, engages a 

 nondescript kind of keeper, and is at work from 

 September to February and then goes on ferreting 

 rabbits as long as it is possible. When his shoot- 

 ing is within driving distance he goes down with 

 his partners or his pals, as the case may be, in 

 a flash dogcart or Whitechapel, drawn by one 

 that can step a bit. He makes an early start, of 

 that you may be sure, for he is of the kind that 

 likes 2 is. for a pound. Just let us have one day 

 with him. I think it will suffice. By seven 

 o'clock he is at work, and as he and his comrades 

 are fair shots, they generally get a good bag. But 

 they are pot-hunters. With them the bag is the 

 thing and not the sport, and all is fish that conies 

 to their net. The first few stubbles have rendered 

 a good account of themselves ; the shooters have 

 done well, and after a nip at the flask they begin 

 to work the turnips and potatoes. The potato 

 haulm is luxuriant, and affords rare cover, and the 

 sport is good, as hare and rabbit and partridge 

 come to hand. " Tally ho ! " See that elegant, 



