This year his instinct (true, though dumb)
    Tells him by subtle signs
  No bullet loosed by me shall come
  Shattering earth below his tum
    Or whistling through his tines.

  Yet little knows he why the hill
    Misses my wonted feet,
  Or how I’ve learned a lethal skill
  At mimic butts that bodes him ill
    When next I stalk his beat.

  I trow that he would swoon for fright
    Upon the purple ling
  To know that in a decent light
  I’d undertake the death, at sight,
    Of any living thing.

  O not for nothing do I grow
    Efficient, eye and hand,
  Schooling myself to strike a blow
  In home defence against a foe
    That never means to land.

  Some fruit of toil there yet shall be
    For this poor volunteer;
  When War’s abatement sets him free
  From bloodless duties, I foresee
    A deadly time for deer!

O.S.

* * * * *

MR. PUNCH’S UNAUTHORISED WAR PICTURES.

FIRST SERIES.  AT THE FRONT.

[Illustration:  GENERAL LLOYD GEORGE, WAR LORD.]

* * * * *

[Illustration:  MR. WINSTON CHURCHILL (JOURNALIST) GIVES THE HUN ANOTHER SHOCK.]

* * * * *

AT THE FRONT.

[Illustration:  MR. ARNOLD BENNETT AND MR. H.G.  WELLS (rival bookmakers—­together).  “WHAT’S THIS FELLOW DOING HERE?”]

* * * * *

[Illustration:  Mr. Hilaire Belloc.  “THIS TRENCH IS WRONG.  IT DOESN’T AGREE WITH MY MAP.”]

* * * * *

AT THE FRONT.

[Illustration:  SIR ARTHUR WING PINERO TAKES A TRIP ON A TANK TO SEE HOW HOUSES ARE BROUGHT DOWN.]

* * * * *

[Illustration:  SUSPENSION OF HOSTILITIES TO ALLOW SIR HERBERT TREE TO THROW OFF A FEW SOLILOQUIES FROM HAMLET.]

* * * * *

AT THE FRONT.

[Illustration:  LORD NORTHCLIFFE DICTATES AN ARTICLE FOR THE TIMES.]

* * * * *

[Illustration:  MR. WOODROW WILSON (WITH MASCOT) TRIES TO FIND A SYMPATHETIC SOUL.]

* * * * *

[Illustration:  Mr. PUNCH’S NATIONAL SERVICE FOR ALL.

It is not implied that the above are at present out of War Work—­but Mr. Punch is very anxious to see everybody’s natural gifts employed to the best advantage.]

[Illustration:  LITTLE TICH proves of the greatest assistance to the Field Telegraph Service

MR. HORATIO BOTTOMLEY contents himself with the post of Advisory Instructor to the Prime Minister.

MR. BERNARD SHAW, with supreme self-denial, consents to acts as a Scarecrow on the Land.

CHARLIE CHAPLIN devotes his energies to recruiting.