290 PHEASANTS 



wretched boy rested the cold muzzle of 

 the loaded gun on the nape of my neck. 

 This made any further hesitation im- 

 possible, the cartridges were gently but 

 firmly removed, and peace reigned once 

 more in the land. 



At least at a covert - shoot, with a 

 gallery of ladies and the human form 

 abounding in every direction, it is not too 

 much to expect that every man, be he 

 gun or loader, who is allowed to carry a 

 loaded gun about, should be guaranteed 

 safe to life and limb. 



The reason that some, who never tire 

 of other forms of shooting, often find 

 covert-shooting irksome is easy to under- 

 stand. It lies not a little in the assured 

 result ; the birds must be there or some 

 one is much to blame ; the element of 

 chance has been practically eliminated, 

 only wind and weather can interfere 

 much with a foregone conclusion, and 

 then there is little consolation in the 

 failure that may result. Nor indeed 

 would chance be a desirable feature in a 



