' Permission was once granted to us, through the kindness of a Russian Director of the Government woods, to have some shooting. Count Bisping's huntsman, who, I have said, was a keen and experienced sportsman, had been obliged, on account of the insurrection, to give up his gun to this same Director; and it was with no ordinary satisfaction that be came to us one day, towards the end of Apri), with a message from the Director, saying, that, if the Count and I would like to have some woodcock shooting, we were to be at his house by five o'clock the next evening The Count was unwilling at first to embrace the offer, fearing lest he might thereby compromise the Director or himself; and that the noise of fire-arms in the forest might lead to collision with the Russian soldiers. But, on further consideration, feeling assured that the Director would not have sent such a message without ample authority, he agreed to go. Accordingly we started, at four o'clock, in an old post-cart without springs, and a pair of horses; and soon reached the comfortable house of the Director, who was by birth a German, and an intelligent and agreeable man. He offered us coffee and cigarettes; and showed us his private room, hung round with various trophies of his success in the chase: the antlered head of the elk, the smaller head of the roe, the tusks of the wild boar, the skins of the fox and bear. I also observed in a stand some ver}7 useful double-barrelled guns and rifles, in excellent order. His equipment was after the style of German sportsmen, who always carry a game-sack, like a railway travelling-bag; the powder-horn gracefully suspended round the shoulder by a green cord (such as we use in England for Venetian blinds) with large green tassels. The shot-flask is carried in the pouch. The gun has a beautifully-ornamented sling (generally worked in worsted by some fair hand), with which they carry it hung round the neck; and it is, in my opinion, very much in the way.
'After all preparations had been duly made, we mounted our waggons, having for our advanced guard a Cossack fully armed, and another equipped in like manner in our rear. The presence of these men of course removed any misgiving which might have been felt as to the authority under which we ventured forth; and off we went at the usual galloping pace observed by travellers in this country. Our course lay through a large wood, with no very definite roadway; and, as there had been lately some heavy rain, the ground was little better than a continuous bog. The horses sank up to their bellies three or four times, and how they ever came out again is still a mystery to me. And yet more wonderful does it appear that our rope tackle bore without breaking, the violent jerks and strains which it had to undergo. After about azi hour spent in this hazardous journeying, we reached an open space in the middle of the forest, where we alighted and loaded our guns. Whilst we were thus engaged, a large hawk came and settled on a high tree close by. One of our party, a young man, whose eye was as quick and piercing as that of the hawk, speedily brought him down. At this moment I heard a curious noise, like hammering, which seemed gradually to come nearer; and, upon asking what it was, learnt that it proceeded from the large wooden bells fixed on the necks of cattle which feed in the wood, and some of which I saw a few minutes afterwards. The sound of their bells is disagreeably monotonous.
' The woodcock begins to fly about half-past six o'clock, and flies for about an hour; so we had not much time to lose. The huntsman soon posted us at our various stations; and, during the few minutes we remained thus waiting, I heard distinctly the crane whistling, and the capercailzie crowing. But very soon a whirring, chattering sound announced the approach of the first woodcock. Its slow flight seemed to offer an easy shot; but the dusky light balked our aim; and the first three or four shots, on the part of the huntsman and myself, were failures. We were afterwards more successful; and three birds fell to my share. I saw several others, but at too great a distance to reach.
' It was the beginning of the breeding season when we went upon this expedition; and, according to our English notions, the pursuit of any game at such a time was unlawful; but it is not so regarded in this country.
' We returned home to Wiercieliszki by a smoother and more agreeable road. The Director joined us at supper, and proved himself, by his amusing stories, to be not less welcome a companion than he had been a kind and zealous sportsman.