BLACK COCK SHOOTING. 
7 
bag some grous, — from two to four brace : tlieir beat is 
about Cburt, a district well known to sportsmen. But I 
can speak from more positive knowledge than this. On 
one occasion Waring Kidd, Mr. Mellersh, his man Friday 
— I mean Chalcraft, — and Dick Rook, completed the 
party. I must introduce Dick Rook : he was a character, 
and so was his father ; they both followed ostensibly the 
calling of ' broom-squarer/ that is, they cut the common 
ling for the purpose of making brooms : both, however, 
dabbled a little in other matters. The father bred game 
cocks, and made a good bit of money by them too ; he 
lived in Acham-bottom, in such a dilapidated dwelHng that 
you might see the sky through every ceiling in the house. 
Dick liked anything better than work, and was always at 
the service of any gunner who would give him a day's em- 
ploy as fag and marker : and a better marker never lived ; 
he would mark a covey of partridges with a nicety, a truth, 
that I have never seen approached, much less equalled. 
But to return to the black cock. We — I should say they 
— were beating the hill-side, all abreast, and at regular 
distances, when Dick said to Waring, — Now, Sir, keep 
higher up, he lays just yonder," pointing higher up the 
brow ; if you keep well up you'll be sure to flush him, 
and have the first shot ; he'll fly across Mr. Mellersh as he 
goes towards the bottom." This arrangement was agreed 
on ; and while Waring was working upwards, Mellersh 
moved a few yards downwards ; and Dick, who knew to 
an inch where the black cock lay, mended his pace and 
walked right into him. Up rose the fine old fellow, spread 
his curly tail, and was going ofl* like the wind. " Mark," 
cried Dick, with ill-suppressed pleasure, for he made sure 
he had saved his bird : but as the word left his lips, the 
