12 SHOOTING AND SALMON FISHING 



cartridge into his gun and took a shot out of the window at a 

 running cock ! The bird escaped, but not so the brougham, 

 which was speedily deposited in the ditch the pheasant had 

 made for ; no one was hurt, and as soon as the two occupants 

 of the vehicle were got out of it the only result worth mention- 

 ing, in addition to a broken pole, was a somewhat animated 

 conversation between them. 



We also once watched a sportsman who, thinking himself 

 unseen, potted some dozen birds just inside the cover as they 

 were running down to the corner, and to give him his due, he 

 rigorously followed the advice offered by Mr. Punch's French- 

 man, and always " waited till they stopped " ! 



As each murder was committed he ran to the cover-side to 

 pick up the victim, and returning to his stand deposited it 

 complacently at his feet. Quite a nice little heap was accumu- 

 lated in this way, and when the beat was over, as the rest 

 of the guns came up, he proudly cried to the keeper, "Just 

 send a boy to take my birds, please," and turning to us, " I've 

 picked 'em all for myself, and there was not a runner in the 

 lot!" Though this was true enough, we began to think whether 

 such conduct should not be reported to head-quarters ; how- 

 ever, as our friend was in all other ways quite an extra good 

 fellow, nothing was said; but by sundry hints and winks he was 

 made to understand there had been a witness of his atrocities, 

 and we are glad to say he is now a fair sportsman and even a 

 moderate shot. 



It is impossible to help noticing the haphazard carelessness 

 often witnessed at some large shooting parties : one moment 

 the barrels of Mr. A.'s full-cocked gun stare you straight in the 

 face, and quickly getting out of that danger, all seems safe till 

 it suddenly dawns on you Mr. B.'s gun is covering your legs, 

 and having promptly avoided any chance of being lamed for 

 life, lo and behold ! Mr. C.'s gun is found pointing steadily at 

 your stomach, till at last, made half nervous and wholly angry, 

 shooting well becomes impossible. The author has always 



