14 EXPERIENCES OF SPORT. 



a capital single gun, bought of Reilly, then living 

 in Holborn, but now of Oxford-street. This 

 was in every respect a useful weapon, and 

 many a snipe and rabbit have I laid low with 

 it. tempora I O mores ! I could not be 

 content with it, notwithstanding I sometimes, 

 nay often, brought down a " rocketer " and got 

 into a " hot corner." A double-barrel was my 

 ambition. A double-barrel I must have, and, 

 to my cost, a double-barrel I did have. 



Money then was an object to me, and, to tell 

 the truth, so it is now ; but this fact I am not 

 always disposed to admit. After dinner, by the 

 side of a blazing fire, with my glass of whiskey 

 toddy, and thinking over a day's shooting or 

 a hard run with the foxhounds, " money is 

 not of the slightest consequence." 



However, in those days I did not often 

 drink whiskey and water. 



One eventful Saturday evening I had sneaked 

 away into the harness-room to smoke a stolen 

 pipe of very mild tobacco with the under groom, 

 when our occupation was interrupted by the en- 

 trance of a certain half-bred vet. who rejoiced in 

 the cognomen of " Knock ; em Down." Whether 



