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"HARD HIT."

ENGRAVED BY J. SCOTT, FROM A PAINTING BY H. alken.

Tyro, No. 1.-" If you were ever to get within range of a red deer, which would you rather-hit him hard, or kill him dead?"

Tyro, No. 2.-" If I ever was, I'd kill him dead, of course—if I could."

No. 1.-"How so? come! your reason why?"

No. 2.-"Certainly! I can afford you a brace. Firstly-on the plea of common sense: secondly-on that of self-preservation." No. 1.-" And your common sense' argument is—”

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No. 2.-" This:-I go from London to Scotland to enjoy deerstalking. To enjoy it I should be something of an adept at it; in fact, the great object I have in view is the death of a deer; and if you are kind enough to ask me what I will have, I say naturally the attainment of it." No. 1.-"That's your common sense.

No. 2.-" And this my self-preservation :-Hour after hour, and mile after mile I creep and crawl, and wriggle and twist, menaced by keepers, and bullied by gillies; now forced into black boggy water, and then ordered to roll myself dry on ground as accommodating as the back of a porcupine; until, at length, with a broken back, broken shins, broken wind, and broken spirit, I receive the word to make ready.'' No. 1.-" Well!"

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No. 2.-"Well, indeed! only picture the difference. In the one case I make a hard hit, as you call it, and the unhappy animal bounds away as straight as the bullet that's in him; while, per contra, I kill him dead down he drops: with my last gasp I stagger up to his side, and we are carried home in glory together.

No. 1.-" Pshaw! It's all the pound of flesh' with you. You speak and think like a keeper. Now hear the voice of a sportsman raised for the hard hit.' Hour after hour, as you say, and inile after mile we are creeping up with subdued breath and smothered excitement, nervous at the bend of a blade of grass, and pained, rather than refreshed by the least lazy kiss of the air. At last comes the shot; and then, instead of all ending with that single crack, he's only hard hit. Sawney lets loose that couple of noble-looking dogs of war. Alic runs to the nearest point for a guess at his line, and there's run cut out up hill and down dale that Melton might mourn for, and the Pytchley be proud of. All the pent-up spirit and excitement has its fling--no craning or peeping now; but away at a pace and over a country that may break a neck quite as quickly as a new gate or a new horse.

No. 2.-"Yes, exactly! and what becomes of the stag you came to shoot?"

No. 1.-"What! Hark to old Dandie and Maggie, and they'll tell you what. Hark! to the bay, sir, the very acmé of all the attractions of deer-stalking! and see what a picture I give you in the second shot, because I did n't make the first sufficient.'

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No. 2.-"Ah! I didn't think of all that; and so the next time I go out, or, at any rate, talk of going, I'll-"

No. 1.-"Take care to hit hard' only. Do you think the brush of a chop'd fox is worth the look at a flying one?"

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“HARD HIT.”

ENGRAVED BY 1. SCOTT, FROM A PAINTING BY H. ALLEN.

Tera. Fi. L—“ If you were ever to get within range of a red deer, which would you rather-hit him hard, or kill him dead?”

Tim. 51. 2—- If I ever was, I'd kill him dead, of course—if I

Na L—“ How so? come! your reason why!” V. 2.— Certainly I can afford you a brace. Firstly-on the bies of common sense: secondly-on that of self-preservation.” Na. 2.—“ Ani pour common sense' argument is-”

2- This :-I go from London to Scotland to enjoy dearstaking. To enjoy it I should be something of an adept at it; in fact, the great lovers Care in view is the death of a deer; and if you are kind Mungi 31 1st me what I will have, I say naturally the attainment of it.” 1- That's your common sense.

Ja 2—“And suis my self-preservation :-Hour after hour, sad mie scher mie. I treep and crawl, and wriggle and twist, menaced by šumpers, ani muliet verlies; now forced into black boggy water, and then, miersi a cal mysaf dry on ground as accommodating as the back of a porespune: umci, at length, with a broken back, broken shins, Broken, VINĚ, KDİ Heiken spirit. I receive the word to make ready.""

Va. 2- Wel, indeed only picture the difference. In the one más a bari he, as you call it, and the unhappy animal bounds avar as strain as the builet that's in him; while, per contru, I kill him desit : down be drips: with my last gasp I stagger up to his side, ani we are carmed home in glucy together.

Ji. — Phor: a's a "the pound of flesh' with you. You get mi duk ikea beeper. Now hear the voice of a sportsman Sised in the bed in' før sher hour, as you say, and mile after mis we ser creeping up with subdued breath and smothered excitement, nerous at the bent of a blade of grass, and pained, rather than re beshat by the least luy kiss of the air. At last cranes the shot; and Then, usual of al ending with thas single crack, he's only hard hit. Sommer is use that couple of noble-looking dags of war." Ale ru 3 the descest peûng fie a guess at his Ene, and there's rem eat unti hil and down die that Neiben might mourn for, and the Pytchley poosì di Al the pent-up spirit and excitement has its fing

ing it peeping now; but away at a pace and over a country my jemi a mà, quine as quickly as a new gate or a

No. 2→→ Tas dantly and what becomes of the stag

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