SPORTSMEN, FARMERS, &C. 99 



Thus either the gamekeeper, or 1, should, 

 from our positions, always have a flanking 

 fire on the enemy. I am of opinion, if) 

 about two or three times a week, my game- 

 keeper and self were to fire about three or 

 four rounds each, into the wood, that the 

 very devil himself would not go into it, 

 when he once kneAv that such manoeuvres 

 therein were frequently practised ; that is 

 to say, after it was dark. I do not think, 

 if I may judge by my own feeling, that it 

 would either be pleasant or prudent. My 

 motive for firing the cannon with a baked 

 clay-ball, is, that an iron ball would damage 

 the timber ; so w^ould iron grape-shot ; but 

 marbles will not. 



A most intimate and old friend of mine, 

 and an old soldier, had a wood fuU of 

 game, close to his house, wdthin, at least, 

 one hundred and fifty yards. He had a 

 large balcony up one pair of stairs, which 

 overlooked this wood. One night he heard 

 some shots fired in his wood. He and his 

 servant got directly up, and planted them- 

 selves out, on the balcony. He always 

 kept a soljjier's musquet for himself, and 



