72 How I Became a Sportsmax. 



Majesty's exchequer by paying duty for a 

 certificate. It was considered by the land- 

 holders on the common that they could all 

 kill game that chose, without it. I know, as a 

 fact, that they paid no taxes or poor's rates for 

 their land. 



Having parted with Isaac at a point where 

 he had to turn off to go to our own ground, 

 though often taking a lingering and a longing 

 look behind him, Ben and I got to our ground. 

 It was rather a foggy morning, with a very 

 strong dew, and it was not very long before 

 I was wet through above the knees ; and as 

 we poked about for a long time without finding 

 anything, I almost began to wish I had not 

 commenced quite so early. I think it must 

 have been nearly an hour before " Doll," after 

 drawing some time across a piece of stubble, 

 stood firm, and on my walking up, there rose a 

 single bird, looking as big as a rook through 

 the fog. I polished him off, but he was a 

 poor, draggled-looking customer, from running 

 about in the dew ; but such as he was, an old 

 cock, he was my first partridge, and I was duly 

 pleased with him. On going on Doll soon 

 began to draw nigh, and at last came to a 



