Perhaps as a change from the somewhat lurid2 record of crime, which from the very nature of things must constitute the principal portion of a police officer's reminiscences, I may be allowed to turn to the lighter3 incidents of a sportsman's recreations. Sport was a very different thing years ago, before the progress of settlement had driven the game away from the more readily accessible regions. I can recall many happy days spent on the Murray plains in the exciting chase after the bounding kangaroo, or in dealing4 devastation5 among the feathered fowl6, which then abounded7 on the lagoons8 and swamps along the river's course. For the amusement of my readers I will recall one occasion, which was not without a spice of humorous incident. A party of four, we started from Melbourne for a week's shooting on the Murray river. Three of us were well accustomed to this branch of sport, but the fourth member of the band, a very good fellow, and a valued friend to us all, was better acquainted with legal sharpshooting than with modern arms of precision. Still, he had been seized with a sudden desire to distinguish himself in a new line, and, like Mr. Winkle, was prepared to uphold his reputation. Not owning, and never having owned, a gun, he deputed me to select a weapon, the best breech-loader that money could buy, determined9 that the birds should not escape, at any rate through any fault of the weapon. I fulfilled the commission accordingly. Intending to camp out most of the time, we laid in a stock of provisions and other necessaries, and, proceeding10 to Echuca by train, started off to our destination lower down the Murray. We camped the first night at a water-hole near Gunbower, and next morning after breakfast the new gun was brought out to be inspected.
I should state that in all shooting parties it is usual to appoint one of the number as captain. He decides what is to be done each day, and his instructions are law. I was appointed on this occasion. Winkle highly approved of my purchase, eyeing the gun, nevertheless, as if it were a doubtful point of law, of whose possible consequences he was exceedingly dubious12. Another member of the party, who dearly loves a practical joke, suggested that the new weapon ought to be tried without delay, and turning to me, with a twinkle in his eye, said—"Make him fire off the gun at the black shag sitting on that log in the water."
Winkle trembled at the suggestion, never having fired off a double-barrelled gun in his life, but with legal acumen13 he objected, on the ground that such a weapon should not be desecrated14 by being turned against an ignoble15 object like a shag, and said with dignity he would prefer commencing his shooting when he got amongst the game. This plea, however, availed him not. I told him he must obey orders; and accordingly, having put a couple of cartridges16 into the gun, I handed the weapon to its owner, who received the gift with manifest consternation17. Still he obeyed. First he fixed18 his eyes steadfastly19 on the shag, then firmly closed them, and, without taking aim, levelled his weapon, and pulled the trigger. As might have been expected under such conditions, the shot struck the water thirty or forty yards from the bird, which soared away with contemptuous deliberation.
"What on earth do you mean by shooting in that way?" called out our humorous friend.
"What do I mean?" repeated the sporting novice20 with astonishment21.
"Why, you never took aim at the bird," was the reply.
"No," responded Winkle, with virtuous22 surprise. "Why should I? I have often heard Hare say, and also many other sportsmen, that they never aimed at a bird; they merely looked at it, and pulled the trigger." The retort was evidently considered a crushing negative, though any sportsman will understand the difference between firing off the gun without covering the bird, and pulling the trigger, and not letting the gun follow the eye.
We went on our journey for some distance. We had two buggies, our waggish23 friend driving with me, and the novice with the remaining member of the party in the second buggy. I was driving about a quarter of a mile ahead, when we saw a huge snake lying in the road. I drove over it, and broke its back, preventing it from moving. We pulled up our buggy and waited till the others came up. Then, for another bit of fun, I ordered Winkle to get out his gun, put it together himself, and shoot the snake. The order, given with the utmost seriousness of countenance24, was received with horror. He objected most strongly, pleading that I knew his antipathy25 to snakes; besides, he had always heard that where there was one snake there was sure to be another close by, and as the grass was long he begged not to be compelled to get out of the buggy. He was quite unaware26 that the back of the snake was broken, and that the reptile27 could not move, though it kept raising its head viciously, and wriggling28 about in a manner quite sufficient to alarm the uninitiated. My companion, alive to the joke, urged me to insist. At last, with the utmost reluctance29, he slowly and with unwilling30 step reached the ground. I told him to aim at the snake. With trembling caution he raised the gun to his shoulder, keeping the while at a respectful distance from the disabled snake, and then pulled both triggers. Belying31 on the sporting doctrine32 that it is quite unnecessary to take aim, he fired at random33, and I need hardly say that neither shot went anywhere near the snake. Then he got into the buggy as quickly as he could, afraid apparently34 that the snake was in eager pursuit.
We laughed, and told him that the snake could do him no harm, as its back was broken. He took the joke good-humouredly, but with more seriousness repeated that he had a horror of snakes, and he begged us not to play any practical jokes of this kind upon him.
That night we reached our destination, and met the then manager of the station, who gave us a good account of the game we were likely to see. My companion and I used to have a shooting trip every year to this station, and the manager was accustomed to reserve all the unmanageable horses he met with during the year for us to break in. Turkey shooting in those days required a good deal of skill in getting near the birds, and we often had a pair of horses which would take a considerable time to yoke35 up, but would return in the evening tired out and quite broken in. The manager began to tell us what a pair of devils he had for us next morning. We were not dismayed, thinking the more spirit the horses had the better, but our verdant36 friend did not at all coincide with this view. When he went out shooting, he said, he wanted to shoot, and did not like his attention distracted by the antics of wild, untamed animals. The manager, all hospitality, agreed that he should have a quiet, steady pair.
After a good night's rest, off we started in the direction where the game was to be found. At first Winkle declined to repeat his shooting experiences. He preferred holding the horses, and it was not until the afternoon that we could prevail on him to take his gun and creep along a gully where some ducks were hiding in the reed-beds. He was not used to country life, nor to stalking game, and when we called on him to keep as close to the ground as possible, he put down his head and raised another part of his body to such a height, that we could scarcely wonder the ducks rose in affright over such an extraordinary figure, long before he got within range. He, however, was no whit37 disappointed. Having been directed to fire he obeyed orders, and though more than 200 yards away he discharged both barrels, and came back much satisfied with himself. He explained that we must have started the ducks, but when we showed him the figure he presented when stalking them, he was not surprised at the birds flying off.
We had a good day's sport, and made up our minds to stay at a deserted38 hut on the run that night. In those days the snakes were very plentiful39 on the Murray Flats. This was long before selection took place, and the huts deserted during the winter months were taken possession of by those reptiles40. On being made acquainted with this strange fact in natural history, our friend was strongly averse41 to anything which would savour of the nature of trespass42, and disclaimed43 any desire to serve a writ44 of ejectment. The manager, who was with us, said that it would be safer to take refuge in the hut than to camp out, as at that season snakes always travelled by night. When we arrived there we found three old bunks45, consisting of four posts driven into the ground with bars across them, and an old bag fastened over them. As old campaigners, my companion, myself, and the overseer took possession of the bunks, leaving the less astute46 members of the party to lie on the floor. Our friend put on his glasses and took a good survey of the position. "Ah!" he said, "I see what it is, the three old birds have taken possession of the bunks, and we," turning to his companion, "have to lie on the floor." As night came on we made ourselves as comfortable as we could under the circumstances, and turned in early. In the night friend number two called out to the snake-hating Winkle, "Lie quiet, a snake has just crawled over me!" At once a light was struck, but the snake could not be found, but the alarmist, who was a very old bushman, declared he distinctly felt a snake crawl over him.
Next day we had another good day's sport, and saw no end of snakes, and again we started our friend off to stalk another lot of ducks. He positively47 refused to crawl along on his hands and knees, as he did not care about the snakes pecking at his nose and face, so the same exhibition occurred as the day before, he presenting a figure that I feel sure the game in the district had never before seen. There was the same result, the ducks flew away unharmed. On this occasion he did not fire at them, but coming back to the buggy his gun went off of its own accord. On his return we asked him what he fired at, and he candidly48 admitted that the gun was responsible and not himself. He stated positively he would never again attempt to fire off a gun, for, said he, "I don't quite know which hammer I am to put my finger on when I put the gun on half-cock." It then appeared he put his thumb on the left hammer, whilst his finger was on the right trigger; consequently, the gun went off. We all recognized that there was a great risk in shooting with our friend, and were glad that he decided49 to put away his gun, and so avoid bagging bigger game than we had any intention of securing.
We decided to cross the Murray and stay the night at a station on the opposite bank. We arrived late in the evening, and were disappointed to find the owner absent from home. However, bush fashion, we went up to the house and told the housekeeper50 we intended staying there for the night. Our friend at once asked the housekeeper whether there were any snakes about. She replied, "I don't think there are many. One was seen on the verandah this morning, and he got under the floor of the house, but a good many were seen some time ago." He did not at all relish51 the idea of sleeping there that night. After a good dinner we went to bed early, our friend, with due regard to his personal comfort, being given the owner's bed. Two of us were sleeping in the next room, and during the night my friend awoke me and said that he heard groaning52 in the next apartment, and asked me to see what was the matter. I lighted a candle and went into the room.
Such a sight I never witnessed before or since. There was our snake-haunted friend sitting doubled up on the bed, fully53 dressed, with gaiters on, and bandages round his wrists and neck. He was groaning as if in great pain.
"What on earth is the matter with you?" said I.
"Oh, Hare! Such a night I never spent before in my life. The snakes have been running up and down the wall after the mice, and I have been afraid that the mice would run up my legs or arms, and the snakes would follow, so I got up, dressed, and put on my gaiters, and tied handkerchiefs round my wrists."
I could scarcely stand for laughing, and went next door and called in my companion, who, appreciating the humour of the situation, exploded with laughter. Never before having slept in a wooden room with a paper partition, our frightened friend did not know that mice invariably amused themselves running races all night within the paper lining54. We explained matters to him, and he undressed and got into bed again.
Next day we intended changing our sport, and having a day's kangaroo hunting—the owner of the station being known all over the district as having the best kangaroo dogs on the Murray. The manager warned our friend against getting into a buggy with me driving, saying that I did not know the danger I ran, galloping56 across the plains as hard as the horses could go, following the dogs. Under this influence he came to me and said, "Hare, I don't think I care about kangarooing; I won't go out to-day." I told him it was his duty to obey orders, and as I had decided we were all to go out kangarooing, he must come with us. I drove the buggy; the horses played up when starting, and he begged to be allowed to stay at home, but we would not hear of his staying by himself, and at last we made a start. The hounds were sent out in a cart, and at an appointed place we all met. The kangaroos were in hundreds, and a pair of dogs were slipped by a man on horse-back when at full gallop55. The two buggies and half a dozen station hands and blacks, perfectly57 naked, went in full gallop across the plains, the kangaroos running in every direction, one hound following one kangaroo, and the other another; such a helter-skelter was never before seen. Our friend was perfectly quiet and resigned to his fate. The game took to a clump58 of timber, and I saw my way to dash through it. The manager, who galloped59 past us, called out that it was perfect madness to allow me to drive as I was doing. However, I got through all right, but was pulled up on the other side by a deep ravine. Then my friend begged me to stop, and said he did not see anything in kangaroo hunting, and he preferred shooting ducks. We had another run, but he still declared that as far as he was concerned he could see no sport in kangarooing, and he had seen enough to last him his life.
We stayed another night at the station, and the next night crossed the Murray, and went back to Victoria. We had another good day's turkey and duck shooting, and that night we camped on a sandhill near a shepherd's hut. After selecting a spot whereon to camp, our friend strolled about, and met the wife of the shepherd. He at once entered into conversation with her, and said, "My good woman, are there any snakes about here?" She replied, "Law, sir, the place is stiff with them. They have been carting in a supply of wood for the winter, and in every hollow log there appears to be a snake." He returned to us downcast and dejected, and taking me aside, said, "Hare, I cannot sleep on the ground to-night; you must let me sleep in the waggon60." I consulted with the others, and we agreed, after the miserable61 nights he had passed, he should be allowed to clear out the waggon, and put his 'possum rug in it. I must describe the position we selected for our camp. It was a steep hill on the side we were on, with a wide creek62 at the foot of it. His attention was drawn63 to the position, and we pointed11 out the possibility of the waggon running down the hill; but he took the precaution of putting chocks under the wheels, so as to prevent such an accident. I had no idea at the time of the reason why my waggish friend took so much trouble to point out the position of the waggon. However, I plainly saw the reason afterwards! We had our tea, which consisted of kangaroos' tails boiled in water, with some pepper and salt, which were not by any means palatable64, but after a hard day's shooting anything goes down! Having selected our sleeping places round the fire, we all turned in, and our friend getting into the waggon, coiled up in his rug, began to chaff65 us, and ask us if there were any snakes knocking about. He little thought what was going to take place during the night. We all fell asleep, and later on I was awakened66 by dreadful screams from the waggon, calling out, "Hare, Hare, the waggon is off down the hill, and I will be drowned." I jumped up, and there saw the wag of the party at the pole of the waggon, pulling it down the hill. I could scarcely stand for laughing. The frightened occupant jumped out, and not seeing the joker at the pole, called out, "Good heavens, what a narrow escape I've had."
Next morning there was a discussion whether we should go back to Melbourne, or continue shooting.
One of the party was for having another day's sport, but the amateur sportsman turned upon him and told him he knew nothing about shooting, and begged us take no notice of what he said, but to make back to the station at once and endeavour to reach Echuca next day. Finally we agreed to do so.
On the road back one of the blacks who was with us started off in a gallop and rescued our little dog from being picked up by a huge eagle-hawk that was pouncing67 down upon the spaniel running ahead of us. These eagles, when hungry, generally hunt together, and have often been seen following a large kangaroo until it could scarcely stand; then they would attack it, and tear it to pieces and eat it. We got back to Echuca that night in time to catch the train. Our bag consisted of thirty-five turkeys, 120 couple of ducks, fifty geese, and no end of kangaroo tails. Our friend gave me his gun to sell, and I believe he has never since fired off a shot, and never intends to do so again. He got back to the bosom68 of his family, and registered a vow69 that he would never again go for a shooting trip as long as he lived, as he found he was not a sportsman, although highly thought of in his profession.
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1
runaway
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| n.逃走的人，逃亡，亡命者；adj.逃亡的，逃走的 | |
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lurid
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| adj.可怕的；血红的；苍白的 | |
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lighter
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| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
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dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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devastation
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| n.毁坏；荒废；极度震惊或悲伤 | |
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fowl
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| n.家禽，鸡，禽肉 | |
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abounded
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| v.大量存在，充满，富于( abound的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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lagoons
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| n.污水池( lagoon的名词复数 )；潟湖；（大湖或江河附近的）小而浅的淡水湖；温泉形成的池塘 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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dubious
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| adj.怀疑的，无把握的；有问题的，靠不住的 | |
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acumen
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| n.敏锐，聪明 | |
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desecrated
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| 毁坏或亵渎( desecrate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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ignoble
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| adj.不光彩的，卑鄙的；可耻的 | |
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cartridges
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| 子弹( cartridge的名词复数 )； （打印机的）墨盒； 录音带盒； （唱机的）唱头 | |
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consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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steadfastly
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| adv.踏实地，不变地；岿然；坚定不渝 | |
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novice
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| adj.新手的，生手的 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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virtuous
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| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
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waggish
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| adj.诙谐的，滑稽的 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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antipathy
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| n.憎恶；反感，引起反感的人或事物 | |
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unaware
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| a.不知道的，未意识到的 | |
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reptile
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| n.爬行动物；两栖动物 | |
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wriggling
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| v.扭动，蠕动，蜿蜒行进( wriggle的现在分词 )；（使身体某一部位）扭动；耍滑不做，逃避（应做的事等）；蠕蠕 | |
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reluctance
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| n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿 | |
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unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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belying
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| v.掩饰，与…不符，使…失望；掩饰( belie的现在分词 )；证明（或显示）…为虚假；辜负；就…扯谎 | |
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doctrine
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| n.教义；主义；学说 | |
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random
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| adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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yoke
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| n.轭；支配；v.给...上轭，连接，使成配偶 | |
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verdant
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| adj.翠绿的，青翠的，生疏的，不老练的 | |
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whit
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| n.一点，丝毫 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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plentiful
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| adj.富裕的，丰富的 | |
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reptiles
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| n.爬行动物，爬虫( reptile的名词复数 ) | |
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averse
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| adj.厌恶的；反对的，不乐意的 | |
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trespass
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| n./v.侵犯，闯入私人领地 | |
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disclaimed
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| v.否认( disclaim的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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writ
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| n.命令状，书面命令 | |
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bunks
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| n.（车、船等倚壁而设的）铺位( bunk的名词复数 )；空话，废话v.（车、船等倚壁而设的）铺位( bunk的第三人称单数 )；空话，废话 | |
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46
astute
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| adj.机敏的，精明的 | |
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47
positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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candidly
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| adv.坦率地，直率而诚恳地 | |
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49
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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50
housekeeper
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| n.管理家务的主妇，女管家 | |
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51
relish
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| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
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52
groaning
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| adj. 呜咽的, 呻吟的 动词groan的现在分词形式 | |
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53
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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54
lining
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| n.衬里，衬料 | |
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gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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galloping
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| adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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clump
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| n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
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59
galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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waggon
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| n.运货马车，运货车；敞篷车箱 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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62
creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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63
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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64
palatable
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| adj.可口的，美味的；惬意的 | |
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65
chaff
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| v.取笑，嘲笑；n.谷壳 | |
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66
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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67
pouncing
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| v.突然袭击( pounce的现在分词 )；猛扑；一眼看出；抓住机会（进行抨击） | |
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68
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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69
vow
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| n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓 | |
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