8 A Sportsman at Large 



I lured him aside one day and led him off to that point 

 where the aforesaid old cocks were wont to " do a guy," 

 while The Dads, Irwin and another cousin, Charlie Gill by name, 

 were making their painful way through the tangle and under- 

 growth of the covert. 



Sure enough, as they approached in the distance, we heard 

 a pattering of the pheasant feet on the fallen leaves, and 

 presently, with a great to-do, a brace of beauties came up 

 and over. 



My pal missed them both like a man ; but my acumen was 

 indicated, though we were in great peril of being peppered by 

 the advancing line, none of which had been advised of our 

 change of position. 



I soon grew tired of looking on, and burned to try my 

 own skill and luck with the shooting iron. So far, an archaic, 

 muzzle-loading pistol, the barrel of which screwed on to the 

 breech, was the only weapon which I had dared to discharge 

 on my own. It had cost me five shillings out of my weekly 

 pocket-money, and had been purchased with the avowed 

 intention of getting a bit of my own back on a certain ill- 

 conditioned mongrel which used to lie in wait for me as I 

 returned in the evening from my daily studies at Totteridge 

 Park School. 



This was a hateful creature. I both feared and loathed 

 him ; but my love of dogs forbade my adding a lethal lead 

 to the charge of black powder which I crammed down the 

 muzzle of my cherished weapon. I was prepared to terrify 

 but not to slay the brute whose one ambition seemed to be to 

 deprive me of a substantial portion of my stalwart calves. 



So it came to pass that, when all was ready, I walked boldly 

 past the enemy's ambush. 



Sure enough, he came out with blood-curdling growls and 

 yowls, and made for his objective. When he was within a 

 yard of my understandings I loosed off ! The effect was 

 electrifying. The cur leapt up into the air, tucked his tail 

 between his legs, and " beat it " at a speed which would 

 not have disgraced a Waterloo cup-winner. In fact, you 

 could not have seen him for the dust which he raised in his 

 ignominious retreat. 



