A Sportsman at Large 89 



having a dog with him he was unable to gather ; whilst he 

 had accounted for three and a half brace of snipe in an adjacent 

 and more accessible marsh. 



He was nearing home after himself having nearly lost his 

 bearings, when he heard my second shot, and sensing trouble, 

 replied ; but it was a piece of pure good luck that he came 

 within ear-shot of my " Coo-ee ! " 



As we moved off we saw lights, like fire-flies dancing below 

 us. It was the party from the farm, with lanthorns. They 

 had heard the gun-fire, and as they were beginning to feel 

 anxious about both Harry and myself, they had sallied forth. 



The forces soon met, and mutual felicitations and explana- 

 tions were excitedly exchanged. 



Never did I so welcome return to a warm, cosy farm hall, 

 with its wide and open fireplace, and its glowing embers of 

 peat ! With what a gargantuan appetite did I sit down to 

 a shoulder of little moorland mutton and onion sauce, snipe 

 on toast, junket and Devonshire cream, with liberal libations 

 of cider of the superior quality (save one from the raw native 

 article !). 



My bag, when laid out on the kitchen table, was a wonder 

 and a joy to all beholders. 



One jack hare (probably tough but promising delicious 

 soup or juicy jug), two brace of partridges, three and a half 

 brace of snipe, two woodcock (one credited to Cockie the Dog, 

 and one to Cockie the Boy) and nine golden plover, to say 

 nothing of the three adders, whose shattered remnants were 

 not gathered for the bag. 



Oh, I was a proud and happy lad. 



That night I slept the sleep of the just. Next morning 

 I arose, none the worse for my overnight adventure, and as 

 keenly bloodthirsty as ever. I had not forgotten the derisive 

 old black-cock, and had figured out how to spill his gore. 

 Discarding my twelve bore for the nonce, I armed myself 

 with my rook-rifle, and a supply of cartridges, and sallied 

 forth making a bee line for Ridden Ridge, where I felt 

 pretty sure His Nibs was again to be found, given normal 

 luck. And so it turned out. As on the previous day, Cockie 

 Junior soon had the wind of the truculent bird, and as before, 



