SPORT AND SCIENCE ON THE 



the rapid discharging of our fowling pieces had 

 alarmed the inhabitants of the suburbs, who, 

 thinking that a fresh outbreak had occurred, 

 came hurrying up armed ready for war. Needless 

 to say, we decided to forego our sport and returned 

 to our quarters. 



Next day, however, we took train to a small 

 village named Pei-ho-liu, where we could indulge 

 without fear of interruption. Here a beautiful 

 stream bubbles up from the base of a low sand- 

 stone outcrop, and is used to irrigate a large area 

 of rice-fields, where, in the season, snipe are very 

 plentiful. Scarcely had we formed up in line 

 with intervals of thirty or forty yards between 

 each of us, than the snipe commenced to rise, and 

 for several hours the sport was fast and furious. 

 Of course many birds escaped, but plenty were 

 added to the bag, which increased steadily. 

 By lunch time we each had several couple of snipe, 

 so we all repaired to a small shrine at the source 

 of the spring, where we made a hearty meal. 



After lunch, as there were still several hours 

 before the return train was due, we set out once 

 more for the paddy fields. The snipe had col- 

 lected again while we were at lunch, so that we 

 had some more good shooting. The usual rivalry 

 existed and each man anxiously sought out the 

 most likely spots, in the hopes of securing a bird or 

 two more than the others. Some quails were 

 flushed and potted, though a trio of pheasants, 



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