A Sportsman at Large 7 



That ashplant became the most treasured unit in my museum 

 of curiosities. 



No ; although The Dads would take his quota of fur, fin or 

 feather, legitimately and enthusiastically, he neither would 

 nor could lay violent hands on his fellow mortals ; though in 

 the exercise of his judicial duties he was wont to deal out 

 drastic punishment to offenders against the laws of the land ; 

 especially those found guilty of crimes of violence and cruelty 

 to children and animals. 



I busied myself with rod and line diligently ; but a time 

 came when vile saltpetre began to attract my attention very 

 persistently. 



It was my delight to accompany the shooting parties con- 

 vened by my beloved parent and my half-brother Irwin. 



The lands of Moat Mount were, for the most part, pasturage, 

 so hardly could it be said that they offered anything like good 

 partridge shooting ; but all were keen, and as the shooting 

 was over dogs, I found much delight in witnessing the 

 operations and gleaning such items of knowledge as my 

 seniors were able to impart by word of mouth or by practical 

 demonstration. 



Ten brace of birds to four guns, with a few rabbits and 

 an occasional hare, marked the limit of expectations. 



The very excellent coverts contained a few wild-bred 

 pheasants ; but when the season arrived, they were not driven 

 in orthodox fashion. The raiders would line up, advance 

 through the brushwood and take their chance of flushing a 

 stray long-tail, which was more often missed than floored. 



Naturally, in a very short space of time, the old cocks 

 became wise to these primitive operations and utterly refused 

 to take wing, running in front of the guns and dogs until 

 they reached the limits of the wood, when they would rise and 

 soar away, whither their fancy and their wings chose to take 

 them. 



Being an observant little lad, I duly noted this " retreating 

 according to plan," so I determined to take advantage of my 

 knowledge for the benefit of a cousin, a few years older than 

 myself, who had been now admitted to the sacred ranks of the 

 gun-men. 



