THE BRENT GOOSE. 153 
watches his time, and counts his slaughter by flocks, at 
shots. Like the owner of the goose with the golden 
eggs, he will find too late that he has killed his people as 
Nero wished to do, at a single blow. Legislation has 
been tried, against all these three cowardly iniquities, 
and of course tried in vain. It rests to see what incul- 
cating a spirit of sportsmanship may do; but I am little 
sanguine, seeing that true sportsmanship, like the game 
it fain would, but cannot, protect, decreases year by 
year—many of those who boast themselves sportsmen, 
and here an I would I could name names, doing deeds 
the foullest pot-hunter would shrink from, and holding 
themselves as high as ever in their own esteem, though 
lower than the lowest in the judgment of the judicious. 
Be this, however, as it may be, the only hope is in the 
efforts of the honorable sportsman, and so let him hope- 
ful ever of the best, hold the helm steady, steer on 
through squall or hurricane, and never—whatever be- 
tide—never give up the ship! 
q* 
