NOVEMBER 387 



had the shooting. He has been firing at my legs all down the 

 Grove, and Fve been jumping the shot. 1 



Afterwards this reverend gentleman very nearly slew me also 

 in mopping up a low pheasant, at which no man ought to have 

 fired. 



Once, too, I knew another clergyman who went out ferreting with 

 a companion and, turning suddenly, aimed his gun at that un- 

 fortunate's boot and hit it. When remonstrated with he said that 

 he thought it was a black rabbit. However, he was only a curate, 

 from whom caution could scarcely be expected. 



Next to the clergy I think that naval lieutenants are the 

 most dangerous, for they return fresh from abroad, where they 

 have been accustomed to shoot with nobody within a square mile 

 of them. But perhaps the palm ought to be given to short- 

 sighted and peppery old generals who chance to be jealous shots. 

 I imagine, however, that sportsmen run more risk from their 

 loaders than from companions, no matter how careless, who are 

 rarely near enough to shoot them dead. I shall not readily forget 

 one such experience. 



Needing a loader, I retained for the next day's shoot a 

 gentleman with a statuesque countenance and a beautiful white 

 beard, who informed me that he had loaded for Lord Walsingham. 

 At the first hot corner, as my second gun was not handed to me 

 when I wanted it, I looked around, to perceive the party who had 

 loaded for Lord Walsingham fumbling at the breech blindly with both 

 hands, a loaded cartridge sticking out of each corner of his mouth. 

 I ought to have dismissed him then and there, but accepted some 

 explanation. At the very next stand, just as I had shot a high 

 pheasant and was watching it fall, I heard an explosion at my side 

 and saw a charge of shot strike the ground in front of my feet. 

 My white-bearded friend had managed to discharge the gun which 

 he was loading in such a fashion that the shot must have passed 

 within an inch or so of my thigh. 



For the rest of that day I used one gun only ; moreover I took 

 to shooting with hammerless guns, which are much safer. On the 



C C 2 



