“That is just what I said,” he remarked, “the gun is superior in many respects; but if we had our bows here, we would have had each two more shots at them, while on the wing. As it is, we can’t reload till they are out of reach. I only spoke of the how as subordinate and auxiliary; but never as a substitute. Although I am not certain that, with our present manufacturing skill, metallic bows could not now be made, equal in power, superior in lightness, and more effective than any gun when the object to be aimed at is not too minute, for in that particular the rifle will never be equalled—certainly not surpassed.”
The retriever soon brought us our birds, and we proceeded leisurely on our way, and in a short time were overtaken by the waggons, when we advanced together towards the house, which we reached in about an hour more. As soon as we came in sight of it, the dogs gave notice of our approach, and a tall, straight, priggish-looking man marched, for he did not hurry himself, bareheaded towards the bars in the pole fence. He was soon afterwards followed by a little old woman at a foot amble, or sort of broken trot, such as distinguishes a Naraganset pacer. She had a hat in her hand, which she hastily put on the man’s head. But, as she had to jump up to do it, she effected it with a force that made it cover his eyes, and nearly extinguish his nose. It caused the man to stop and adjust it, when he turned round to his flapper, and, by the motion of his hand, and her retrogade movement, it appeared he did not receive this delicate attention very graciously. Duty however was pressing him, and he resumed his stately step towards the bars.
She attacked him again in the rear, as a goose does an intruder, and now and then picked something from his coat, which I supposed to be a vagrant thread, or a piece of lint or straw, and then retreated a step or two to avoid closer contact. He was compelled at last to turn again on his pursuer, and expostulate with her in no gentle terms. I heard the words “mind your own business,” or something of the kind, and the female voice more distinctly (women always have the best of it), “You look as if you had slept in it. You ain’t fit to appear before gentlemen.” Ladies she had been unaccustomed of late to see, and therefore omitted altogether. “What would Colonel Jones say if he saw you that way?”
To which the impatient man replied: “Colonel Jones be hanged. He is not my commanding officer, or you either—take that will you, old ooman.” If the colonel was not there his master was, therefore pressing forward he took down the bars, and removed them a one side, when he drew himself bolt upright, near one of the posts, and placing his hand across his forehead, remained in that position, without uttering a word, till the waggons passed, and the doctor said, “Well, Jackson, how are you?” “Hearty, Sir! I hope your Honour is well? Why, Buscar, is that you, dog; how are you, my man?” and then he proceeded very expeditiously to replace the poles.
“What are you stopping for?” said the doctor to me, for the whole party was waiting for us.
“I was admirin’ of them bars,” said I.
“Why, they are the commonest things in the country,” he replied. “Did you never see them before?” Of course I had, a thousand times, but I didn’t choose to answer.
“What a most beautiful contrivance,” said I, “they are. First, you can’t find them, if you don’t know beforehand where they are, they look so like the rest of the fence. It tante one stranger in a thousand could take them down, for if he begins at the top they get awfully tangled, and if he pulls the wrong way, the harder he hauls the tighter they get. Then he has to drag them all out of the way, so as to lead the horse through, and leave him standin’ there till he puts them up agin, and as like as not, the critter gets tired of waitin’, races off to the stable, and breaks the waggon all to flinders. After all these advantages, they don’t cost but a shilling or so more than a gate. Oh, it’s grand.”
“Well, well,” said the doctor, “I never thought of that afore, but you are right after all,” and he laughed as good humouredly as possible. “Jackson,” said he.
“Yes, your Honour.”