322 PHEASANTS 



leged association of bachelors who dwell 

 without the land of butts and beaters — 

 whose voice had been audible in the 

 earlier stages of the drive, protesting 

 against this unwonted invasion of his 

 chosen home and sanctuary, accompanies 

 a hen pheasant in the passage perilous. 

 Both fall together, and the heart rejoiceth 

 over an unusual right and left. 



To the stalwart Murray as he comes 

 in with his beaters : * You worked them 

 splendidly, one couldn't wish for a better 

 rise of pheasants ! ' * A'm glad you're 

 pleased,' answers simply the laconic Scot. 



Next morning a tearing north-easter 

 with squalls of sleet and rain : inhuman 

 alike to man and bird to ask the beaters 

 to rouse the reluctant pheasant in the 

 dripping woods. With noon came a 

 break in the sky, and some of the 

 younger members of the party with a 

 few of the sturdiest beaters took the hill ; 

 an extemporized drive through a blown- 

 out wood for black game and roe, another 



