246 A Sportsman at Large 



in an appearance when conditions as before described 

 were at their very worst for the sport on which he had set 

 his heart. Day after day we fished together, with a cloudless 

 sky overhead ; casting our flies unproductively on the trans- 

 lucent waters. At last we became thoroughly fed-up. I 

 was in despair of showing my guest sport with the fishes. 

 So I drew a bow at a venture. 



" Do you ever indulge in shooting, Doctor ? " I asked. 



" Why, yes," he said. " In my early days before I took 

 Orders, I was much addicted to the gun." 



" Well, then," quoth I, "if you would like to renew 

 acquaintance with that weapon, I can take you to the marshes 

 and show you snipe galore, with a duck or two thrown in." 



" My dear Cox," he replied sententiously, " fishing is one 

 thing, but shooting quite another. What would my flock 

 say if they heard that their spiritual mentor was indulging 

 in the latter recreation ? " 



" It is a long, long trail from the Isle of Man to the Orkneys," 

 1 ventured. 



" Well, well," said his Lordship, " perhaps under the cir- 

 cumstances I might indulge." 



" Good ! " I exclaimed. " I can fix you up with a gun and 

 ammunition." 



" Oh, thank you very much. I have brought a pair of 

 Purdies with me." 



" Oh ! That's capital," I said. " Come along then ! " 



Half an hour later found us approaching the edge of the 

 productive marsh, with the old pointer Belle as keen as 

 mustard for the fray, and my clever, but " half-baked " 

 retriever Sweep, at my heels. No sooner was the old bitch's 

 foot upon the rushy surface than she froze out in a dead point ! 



" Go on, Doctor," I whispered, " the birds are sure 

 there!" 



My guest hurried up ; when a wisp of five longbills rose, 

 uttering their well-known lamentations. The Bishop was as 

 quick as lightning on the first bird, which he " floored " in 

 masterful style ; then, slewing round, he brought down a 

 spectacular long-shot with his second both birds as dead 

 as stones ! 



