SHOOTING IN COMPANY 221 



again. Each is spoiling the other's sport, and 

 as one man goes out for the day, the other waits 

 for his return in a fever of impatience, hoping 

 devoutly that he has had no luck, so that it may 

 come to him next day. This sort of thing is 

 hardly conducive to good friendship, and is 

 not unlikely to end in open rupture. It is a 

 great pity, for it would appreciably add to the 

 pleasures of a trip to compare notes with a pal, 

 and to fight one's battles over again by the 

 camp-fire. Fishing is a much more sociable 

 sport for this reason, and often in hill-shooting 

 two men can shoot together without in the least 

 interfering with each other's sport ; but with 

 heavy game it is otherwise — in Burma, at all 

 events — more's the pity ! Still, in spite of the 

 solitude and the discomfort, the insects and 

 the heat, there is nothing to touch it in the 

 writer's humble opinion. No, dear reader, no- 

 thing — that is, in the world of sport — not even 

 getting fast in a monster mahsir, which I admit 

 comes very near it. What a mercy it is that 

 we don't all think alike, though, or there would 

 be no big game left for you and me to shoot by 

 this time ! 



And now it only remains for me to wish 

 you every success in pursuit of the noble 

 animals I have attempted to describe. If the 

 contents of this book have helped to recall 

 memories of bygone sport to those whose 



