SNIPE. 
7 
a fenman’s cowshed, while the sly old pointer had seldom any difficulty in securing quarters when the day’s 
work was over in front of the tap-room fire of a cosy country inn. 
Judging from many of the sporting pictures published some years back, a wild and noisy spaniel 
that ranged unchecked was the sort of animal that accompanied the gunner to the fens and marshes. 
If any faith is to be placed in these artistic efforts. Snipe and fowl must, in those good old times, have 
been far more confiding tlian at the present day, otherwise the shooters’ bags must bave been light indeed. 
Many yeai’s ago I possessed a red Sussex spaniel, a quadriqied mucli after the fashion of some 
represented in the old plates ; being somewhat rash as well as jealous, his performances on the Snipe-bogs 
may be passed over, but one of bis exploits is worth recording. After a fair day’s sport on the fens of 
one of the eastern counties, I was returning homewards between eight and nine on a fine November evening; 
a low basket-cart was my conveyance, with a fast-trotting pony in the shafts, and the milestones flew past 
in rapid succession. Jlie spaniel, having dried his coat after bis day’s work in the marshes by a snooze 
in front of the tap-room fire while a dinner of ham and eggs had been discussed, was, as usual, stretched 
out on my feet. In consequence of the garroting scare, now at its height, and also of several attacks on 
the highway perpetrated by footjiads in the neighbourhood, a loaded revolver bad been placed within 
reach between the cushions of the seat and the right-hand side of the trap. Though a few passing clouds 
occasionally obscured the moon, the night was fairly light, and the few travellers I met or passe"d could 
easily be distinguished at the distance of forty or fifty yards. The road was for the most part flat and 
good, and after leaving a lone-standing turnpike ran for two or three miles across a piece of open land. 
hen about halfway across this dreary stretch, two figures came in view, apparently following the same 
course as myself. As they persisted in keeping the centre of the road, I was forced to ease for a 
moment when they suddenly separated and, allowing the pony just sufficient room to pass, rushed one to 
each side of the trap with a loud request for a lift. The chestnut mare never needed the whip, and my 
right hand being at liberty, the pistol was grasped before the fellows laid hold of the trap. Startled by 
the noise the mare dashed off at a gallop, and the man to my left was immediately shaken off, while his 
companion losing his balance pitched headlong towards the bottom of the conveyance. The muzzle 
of my six-shooter was touching his left side as he sprawled across my knees, but no cause had as yet 
occurred to justify its use. What might have happened it is impossible to say, had not the old dog, with 
a savage growl, sprung up and seizing the man by the arm caused him, with an oath and a yell of pain, to 
throw himsefl backwards and roll heavily to the ground. Both of my assailants having been thus 
summarily disposed of without the slightest exertion on my own part, I proceeded quietly homewards, 
and imagining the whole affair to have been a drunken spree for which the perpetrators had suffered 
sufficiently, no further thought was given to the matter. On tbe following morning, however, on entering 
the stable-yard of the inn where I had put up, the ostler, who held in his hand a large butcher’s knife 
sharpened on both edges, inquired where I had picked up such an elegant piece of cutlery. On demanding 
an explanation, tbe man stated be had found the knife lying with the rugs at the bottom of the trap” 
There Avas now no doubt as to the character of my two friends, one of whom must have dropped the 
knife when pinned by the dog, as I subsequently learned that having been balked in tbeir first attempt, 
they had later on the same night attacked a poor old farmer, whom they relieved of a silver watch and 
the sum of seven shillings. 
After a long continuation of frost Snipe, if not driven entirely from the country, occasionally 
succumb to the effects of cold and hunger. During an ordinary winter, however, the birds will usually 
be found in the finest condition on the approach of cold Aveather. My notes contain the weights of 
hundreds of couples of Snipe, with the dates on which they were killed ; to give the whole list would answer 
no purpose, though a few extracts Avill indicate the extreme Aveiglits attained. The heaviest couple I 
