AS IT WAS AND AS IT IS 39 



" look sharp, and dress." Too cognizant of the fact 

 that Uncle Sam's only chance of peace is to obey, 

 we splash into our tub forthwith, encase our person 

 in an old velveteen and gaiters, and having gulped 

 our coffee and hastily devoured our toast, find our- 

 self at nine o'clock standing on the hall steps, and 

 comparing guns with Jack, previous to a start for 

 the arable. Two keepers, a brace of perfect pointers, 

 and a retriever, are awaiting, even at that hour, 

 impatiently, our departure for the scene of action. 



Two miles' walk in the soft September air serves 

 to brace our nerves for the work before us ; and the 

 head keeper and the Squire having conferred to- 

 gether like two generals, on our arrival at the seat 

 of war, we at length find ourselves placed — I should 

 perhaps rather say marshalled — in the turnips and 

 ready for the fray. What a picture it is ! how 

 truly English ! each sportsman's eye glistening 

 with excitement and pleasure, as he poises his gun, 

 each in his own readiest manner and favourite 

 position, the Squire casting his eye along the line 

 with the careful scrutiny of a field-marshal examin- 

 ing his forces previous to a final and decisive 

 struggle ; the two pointers, too well disciplined to 

 show their ardour in gestures, standing mute behind 

 the keeper ; Jack with his gun full-cocked and 

 ready to fire almost before the quarry is started ; 



