THE SHAKP-TAILED GKOUSE. 89 



Our experienced dogs dashed for the light thickets that 

 fringed the stubble-field as soon as they got over the 

 fence, and they had scarcely entered them before a brood 

 was pointed in admiral)le style. One of the company 

 then advanced and flushed the birds, and when they rose, 

 with a loud and startling whirr, eight barrels belched 

 shot among them, and brought several to the ground 

 with such force that some of them made a ricochet, while 

 the clouds of feathers which floated in the air proved 

 what havoc had been committed among them. After 

 picking up the dead and wounded we found that the 

 volley had brought us four brace, and that we had 

 bagged about two-thirds of the covey. This result was 

 due to the close manner in which they rose, and the 

 fact that all flew in the same direction. When these 

 were placed in the wagon, we resumed operations, but, 

 instead of moving in a body, we divided into couples 

 and took opposite routes, with the understanding that 

 we were to meet for lunch at a stream about four 

 miles distant. After leaving the others, my companion 

 and myself flushed a brood which were following the 

 mother, bagged five of them, and subsequently found 

 two more, which were badly wounded. As it was evi- 

 dent that the birds were unusually numerous; we de- 

 cided to rejoin our comrades and see if they would draw 

 lots as to who should drive the wagon, for it was a]ipar- 

 ent that, if we killed as rapidly as we had done, we 

 should either have to leave our trophies behind us, owing 

 to their weight, with a possibility of not finding them 

 again, or put them in the vehicle when they were shot. 

 A loud halloo was tlierefore given, and this caused our 

 companions to halt, to learn its import. On rejoining 

 them our idea was explained, and was acted upon imme- 

 diately. Lots were drawn as to who should drive the 

 team, and the result was that I was relegated to the po- 

 sition of Jehu, much to my disappointment, as I was 



