CHAPTERIII
/AnencounterbetweentheBaron’snoseandadoor—post，withitswonderfuleffects——Fiftybraceofducksandotherfowldestroyedbyoneshot——Flogsafoxoutofhisskin——Leadsanoldsowhomeinanewway，andvanquishesawildboar。/
ItwassometimebeforeIcouldobtainacommissioninthearmy，andforseveralmonthsIwasperfectlyatlibertytosportawaymytimeandmoneyinthemostgentleman—likemanner。YoumayeasilyimaginethatIspentmuchofbothoutoftownwithsuchgallantfellowsasknewhowtomakethemostofanopenforestcountry。Theveryrecollectionofthoseamusementsgivesmefreshspirits，andcreatesawarmwishforarepetitionofthem。OnemorningIsaw，throughthewindowsofmybed—room，thatalargepondnotfaroffwascoveredwithwildducks。InaninstantItookmygunfromthecorner，randown—
stairsandoutofthehouseinsuchahurry，thatIimprudentlystruckmyfaceagainstthedoor—post。Fireflewoutofmyeyes，butitdidnotpreventmyintention;Isooncamewithinshot，when，levellingmypiece，Iobservedtomysorrow，thateventheflinthadsprungfromthecockbytheviolenceoftheshockIhadjustreceived。Therewasnotimetobelost。Ipresentlyrememberedtheeffectithadonmyeyes，thereforeopenedthepan，levelledmypieceagainstthewildfowls，andmyfistagainstoneofmyeyes。[TheBaron’seyeshaveretainedfireeversince，andappearparticularlyilluminatedwhenherelatesthisanecdote。]Aheartyblowdrewsparksagain;theshotwentoff，andIkilledfiftybraceofducks，twentywidgeons，andthreecoupleofteals。Presenceofmindisthesoulofmanlyexercises。Ifsoldiersandsailorsowetoitmanyoftheirluckyescapes，huntersandsportsmenarenotlessbeholdentoitformanyoftheirsuccesses。
InanobleforestinRussiaImetafineblackfox，whosevaluableskinitwouldhavebeenapitytotearbyballorshot。Reynardstoodclosetoatree。InatwinklingItookoutmyball，andplacedagoodspike—nailinitsroom，fired，andhithimsocleverlythatInailedhisbrushfasttothetree。Inowwentuptohim，tookoutmyhanger，gavehimacross—cutovertheface，laidholdofmywhip，andfairlyfloggedhimoutofhisfineskin。