A Sportsman at Large 45 



" went near to annexing the stakes " (as we say in racing), 

 but the " objection " signal was hoisted. 



The one remaining dumpling a very plethoric and inviting 

 specimen of its kind reclined on the dish in solitary grandeur. 



" Another dumpling please, Uncle Edward/' pleaded his 

 youthful namesake, handing his plate. 



The Dads was very nearly " rushed." Indeed, he took the 

 desirable confection in the tablespoon, and moved to comply 

 with the request of this unconscionable " Oliver." Then he 

 paused, took the bit (no, not the dumpling, of course !) in his 

 mouth, so to speak, and settled the question. Transferring 

 the prize in dispute to his own plate with a determined flop, 

 he exclaimed calmly but decisively : 



" No I I'm damned if I do I " 



" Edward the Younger " disqualified ! Race awarded to 

 The Dads ! 



But for all other meals we decided to be our own caterers, 

 so had to rely on what we could shoot with the gun, or catch 

 with the rod, plus eggs of moor-fowl, coots, or what-not 

 (barring, of course, those of pheasants or partridges), that 

 we could find, or the layings of the domestic barn-door fowls 

 which we were able to purloin from the farm-yard. Fruit 

 and vegetables were obtained by constant raids on the kitchen- 

 garden, and we had the audacity to milk the docile cows as 

 they browsed in the meadows. 



We built us a field-kitchen of our own. It was certainly 

 of a somewhat primitive design, but, all things considered, 

 we managed to turn out really Lucullian repasts, to which 

 we occasionally deigned to invite the poor dwellers under 

 the paternal roof. Sometimes, after dinner, The Dads him- 

 self would come to our camp, and, seating himself, with the 

 glowing embers lighting up his highly intellectual features, 

 discourse of interesting Nature studies, or psychological mys- 

 teries, whilst we listened open-mouthed, what time the owls 

 flitted in ghostly silence overhead, and then alighting on an 

 adjacent tree, hooted lugubriously. Suddenly, The Dads 

 would turn from grave to gay, and rejoice us with flashes of 

 his ready wit and humour, tales of his own boyhood, or his 

 experiences at the Bar and on the Bench. Eheufugaces I 



