wo other men on the opposite side; one I
recognised as Colonel Delmar; the other I could not at first make out;
but, as I approached them, I perceived that the colonel was talking with
the clerk of Mr Warden. I passed them without notice, for they were
very earnestly engaged in conversation. What they said, I did not know;
but I thought it singular that so proud a person as Colonel Delmar
should be so engaged with an inferior; a little reflection, however made
me consider that there was nothing very surprising in Colonel Delmar's
entering into conversation with a man in the country. They might be
talking about the game, or a hundred other things.

I had a very friendly dinner with Mr Warden, who, after dinner, gave me
a hint that I should not be the worse for the papers signed the day
before. He did not however, say anything positive, as it would have
been a breach of trust. When I spoke of my soon being afloat again, he
said that he would not fail to watch over my interests at the Hall
during my absence, and he requested that I would write to him, and
consider him as my sincere friend. "Of course, my dear Captain Keene, I
do not expect that you will at present give me your entire confidence;
but I trust you will when you know me, and at all events that you will
not fail to do so when my advice may be of use to you. I have a debt of
obligation to pay, and I shall be most happy to do so, if it is in my
power!" I thanked Mr Warden for his kind offers, and promised to avail
myself of them, and we parted great friends.

The next day, Friday, we had a large addition to our shooting party. I
had not been out more than an hour, when, as I was standing near Lord de
Versely, who was re-loading his gun, a report, close to us, was heard,
and I fell down close to his feet, apparently dead. A keeper, who was
with us, ran to see who had discharged the gun, and found that it was
Colonel Delmar, who now ran up to us, stating, in hurried terms, to Lord
de Versely, that his gun had gone off accidentally as he was putting on
a copper cap, and bitterly lamenting the circumstance. Lord de Versely
was at the time kneeling down by my side (as I was afterwards informed),
showing the greatest anxiety and grief. My hat had been taken off; it
was full of blood and the back of my head was much torn with the shot.
I remained insensible, although breathing heavily; a gate was taken off
its hinges, and I was laid upon it, and carried to t