And so the hardening-off process commenced at once. Frank was not sorry, after all, to leave the gloom of Epping Forest, and commence a sportsman's life in earnest. The plan adopted by Chisholm and his friend, Fred, to "break young Frank in, and to harden him off," was, I think, a good one. They were to travel a good deal in England, be here to-day and away to-morrow, and visit any of the fens or moors or shores where there was the chance of a week or two of good shooting. That was one part of the plan. The other was that they were, as Fred called it, "to forswear civilisation, and to live in tents;" in other words, to do a deal of camping out, instead of living in hotels or houses of any kind. "How do you think you will like that kind of thing?" asked Chisholm. "Oh, I think it will be perfectly delightful," said Frank, enthusiastically. "But Frank _is_ a bit of a shot, isn't he?" asked Fred. "Always during vacation times," said Frank, speaking for himself. "I used to potter around my father's property. I have done so ever since I was a boy." "Ha! ha!" laughed Chisholm. "Why, you're only a boy yet." "All stuff," said Frank stoutly. "I'll be twenty next birthday." "Well, well," said Chisholm; "but tell Fred what you used to shoot." "Oh, anything about the farms, you know, bar the song-birds; father thought it cruel to kill them. But there were rats, such lots of rats, and sometimes a hawk or a rabbit, or even a hare. Then there were the wild pigeons--wary beggars they are, too; I used to wait for them under the fir-trees." "What, and kill them sitting?" asked Fred. "Well," said Frank, "it isn't sportsman-like, I know; but I could hardly ever get near them else. Then the young rooks were great fun in spring; and mind you, there is many a worse dish to set before a hungry man than rook-pie." "I believe you, lad," said Fred. "Well, I've shot stoats and weasels by the score; and I once shot a polecat, and another day an otter, and another day an owl." "Well, well, well," cried Fred. "What bags you must have made, to be sure! Never mind, you've got the makings of a good sportsman in you. Chisholm and I will bring you out, never fear. Did you often go owl-shooting?"