ON SHOOTING. 169 



the habit of " dropping " without hesitation will prove invalu- 

 able. Remember that the more he knows before taken out 

 shooting in company, the fewer complications are likely to arise. 



To return to our partridge drive. There are occasions — 

 too many, you will think — on which you will have to stand 

 close up to, or almost in, the fence. On others, you will 

 be lined well back from it, where its height and density 

 allow this ideal position, often portrayed by the sporting 

 artists who reproduce our friends in immaculate spats. 

 Whichever procedure is necessary, do not seek to improve 

 your position at the expense of the line. You are a mere 

 unit in the party. Should the order be to stand back, never 

 under any circumstances whatever allow your accompanying 

 lady, if you are lucky (?) enough to have one, be she wife, 

 cousin, fiancee or what not, to shelter herself in the hedge 

 in front of you. Apart from the danger from yourself and 

 her liability to turn back birds which have run forward, 

 she will baulk your neighbours, as will any living object out 

 of the straight line. The only man I can ever recollect 

 peppering (a horribly light expression for what may be a 

 serious accident) was an under-keeper who had concealed 

 himself thus and received in his gaiter the outside pellets 

 of a charge which put an end to a sneaking fox. This was 

 not in a hunting country. 



It ought to be, but is not, superfluous to remind you 

 never to fire at birds in front when there is the slightest 

 risk of injuring one of the advancing beaters. Somewhat 

 less obvious is the advice to obtain from your host or his 

 keeper, before you take up your position for a drive, what are 

 the subsequent plans, your own destination in particular. 

 This will rule out any misunderstanding, which is bad, and 

 shouting, which is infinitely worse. I cannot sufficiently 

 emphasise the importance of absolute silence — silence with 

 mouth, foot, whistle, whip, even with matches, when taking 

 your stand in a fence. There is plenty of time to talk at 

 luncheon, or at home, or in the close season. Attention to 

 orders, abstinence from noise, alertness and so on, on the 

 part of guests, all help to make things easier for the host. And 

 the exercise of such elementary " obligements " will be to your 

 ultimate benefit ; you are less unlikely to be asked again. 



