A Sportsman at Large 107 



got clean away. Come along, let's get back and see what's 

 happened to the guy I let daylight into. He looked pretty 

 bad anyway.' 



" When we regained the house we found Robber Hinde and 

 Ted Jaquet, in their pyjamas, gazing in awe at the prone 

 and motionless figure on the floor of the smoking room. 



" We were besieged with questions and Cockie had to give 

 a recital. 



" ' And now, what are we going to do with this ? ' he said 

 in conclusion, at the same time administering a kick to the 

 poor ' corpse.' 



' Aw yer 'anner, ut's meself phwats fair toired av lyin' 

 here wid me face on the fluer. Faith and it 's a drap av 

 the crathur oi'd be havin' teu revoive the sowl av me ! ' 



" McDonald by all that was wonderful ! 



" He sat up and grinned. 



" Then another ' Fenian ' entered upon the scene and 

 removed his mask. 



" Bedford ! Our host's imperturbable and impressing valet ! 



" Hinde and Jaquet produced masks from behind their 

 backs. The game was up." 



This, as far as I can remember, is the account of the spoof, 

 as rendered over and over again by Dicky Garnett, years 

 afterwards. If the writing which I have set down is not 

 verbatim according to Dicky, it is " in words to that effect." 



(No ! my esteemed collaborator Ben Trovato had nothing 

 to do with the compilation.) 



Now I must not omit an episode which occurred the second 

 night after my arrival at Burrishoole. Ted and I had the 

 shack to ourselves and were drawing up an itinerary pro forma, 

 for the next day's sporting expedition. 



I happened to look out of the window. It was a dark 

 night ; but in the distance I could see half a dozen lights 

 dancing like fire flies, where I judged the banks of the Glender- 

 hawke river to be. 



Calling Ted's attention to them, I announced my intention 

 of investigating the phenomena. 



The servants had all retired to rest, so I suggested that 



