74 How I Became a Sportsmax. 



offence in the eye of the commoners only 

 second to going in yourself. At length it 

 drew on towards breakfast-time (I had arranged 

 with old Tom to meet us at a certain point 

 with it at nine o'clock) ; but long before that 

 time had come, my stomach had been crying 

 out for it. 



We were at the appointed spot before Tom, 

 having only bagged two brace of birds ; and I 

 was not over-pleased with the commencement 

 of my campaign, and made a mental resolution, 

 not to go out again in the early dew. The 

 birds are on their feed and unsettled, and you 

 get wet through and uncomfortable. There 

 were other miseries in store for us, but of that 

 mor^non. 



At length we spied old Tom coming along, 

 and with him a young London friend of mine ; 

 and never was breakfast more acceptable or 

 better enjoyed. 



After this was discussed, Tom having been 

 sent off with the remains and the birds (of 

 which he was as proud as if they had been 

 forty brace), and with instructions to meet us 

 at one o'clock with lunch, we made another 

 attempt, and had not gone very far before Doll 



