186 TWO DIANAS IN SOMALILAND 
how to be a good sportsman — as though one could 
learn that from books l 
All these tomes of wisdom were written for man by 
man. I tried to follow out their often entirely opposite 
advice, but after a while, being a woman and therefore 
contrary, I “ chucked 5 5 all systems and manufactured 
rules for myself. I don’t close either eye when I 
shoot. I shoot with both open. In Cecily’s case her 
left is the most reliable, and she makes provision ac- 
cordingly. Our present rifles were not fitted to our 
shoulders. So far as I know, they would have done 
nicely for any one’s shoulder. Either we were making 
the best of things, putting up with inconveniences, 
unknown to us, or else there is a frightful lot of rubbish 
written around a sportsman’s battery. In spite of 
any “ advice ” and “ remarks ” to the contrary, I 
consider my 12 -bore, with soft lead spherical bullets, 
driven by drams of powder, ideal for lion and all 
more important, because dangerous, game. When one 
did get a bullet in it stayed in, and there was no 
wasting of its dreadness on the desert air. In reply 
to remarks as to the undoubted superiority of this, 
that, and the other rifle, &c., &c., &c., I merely answer 
oracularly : “ May be.” 
“ This, General,” an American hostess once re- 
marked to General Sheridan, who was busily manipu- 
lating an ordinary fork at the commencement of a 
banquet, “ this is the oyster fork.” 
“ D n it, madam,” answered the General, “ I 
know it ! ” 
