GROUSING 49 



time on a wet day (the best for the purpose) and to please 

 the farmer whose stooks are suffering. A high-lying cornfield 

 on the edge of the moor must be the scene of operations, 

 and it is quite good time to arrive there by one o'clock in 

 the afternoon. Seats are made behind the stone wall of the 

 field, and placed so that their occupants cannot shoot into each 

 other. A stone or two is pulled from the top of the dyke, 

 some bracken or a sheaf of corn on the top of these, with 

 a game-bag over all, makes a dry and easy seat to shoot from, 

 which however must be built of such a height as not to show 

 the shooter's cap above the wall. Places being arranged, each 

 gun takes a seat, one keeper makes a detour and retires 

 to the moor to one side of, and a long way behind, the 

 cornfield, while if there is a second man out, he goes forward 

 to some hiding-place in front of the guns. Should birds 

 settle near either of them, then by showing themselves they 

 can try to put them back to the guns under the dyke, who 

 should keep ever ready for chances. For the first half-hour 

 the gun will probably lie across the knees while a pipe is 

 smoked, and of course at the first moment attention is re- 

 laxed, a covey comes over the wall to pass by unshot at. 

 Annoyed at losing the chance, the culprit now sits at the 

 ready, and suddenly a gende rushing sound is heard, and 

 in a moment he finds himself literally smothered in grouse 

 flying barely a foot over his head. It is easy enough to 

 take a brace out of this lot, for they are slowing in their 

 flight, preparatory to settling on the stubble ; and often after 

 two barrels have been fired, a pack will yet alight, and then 

 fluttering up on to the stooks one by one, will commence 

 to feed. As this takes place the keeper on that side will 

 quit his hiding-place and move gently towards them, and 

 as they take flight they will usually return to the moor by 

 the way they came. This time, however, there will be 

 more satisfaction in taking a brace, for they are now driven 

 birds and, coming best pace, often rise very high. 



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