SHOOTING 99 



one behind the beaters to take toll of any rabbits that 

 may go back. The word is given to advance, and 

 the dogs at once dash in. It is marvellous how they 

 face the furze, and how untiringly they work through- 

 out a hot afternoon. The young shooter who leaves 

 the ride and essays to follow them in quest of an 

 open space in which he thinks to get plenty of 

 shooting, is soon taught to wonder what sort of skin 

 a dog possesses, when his own is lacerated at every 

 step, and his knees above the gaiters are turned to 

 pincushions. But the irritation of the moment is for- 

 gotten in the excitement of the sport. A spaniel 

 gives tongue on his right, a sudden movement of 

 the furze is seen, a great brown hare slips out in 

 front of him and, cantering some way down the ride 

 to his left, disappears on the other side before he has 

 time to recover from his surprise. He has quite 

 forgotten to ask his host whether hares are to be shot 

 or not, so thinking it is perhaps rather too early in 

 the season, he has prudently refrained from firing, 

 and is pleased to be told later that he has done 

 right. 



A shot from a neighbour's gun followed by the 

 squeal of a rabbit tells him that the latter was very 

 nearly missed, but one of the spaniels has got hold of 

 it, and it is speedil>- put out of pain. Another shot, 



H 2 



