NERVES OR STRAIGHT POWDER 379 



either remain, skulking and terrified, among the 

 roots, or double back between the guns. 



At the same time, the difficulty of arranging 

 and successfully carrying out a partridge-drive is 

 by no means inconsiderable, for partridges cannot 

 be driven like grouse ; they will not always go in 

 the required direction ; they have an awkward 

 habit of turning away from the guns at the last 

 moment, and under the most favourable con- 

 ditions take a deal of hitting. Nevertheless, I 

 think it may be conceded that the driving system 

 is that more worthy of the British sportsman. 



When birds are wild, it is doubtless not a little 

 exasperating to see covey after covey rise at such 

 a distance as to render clean shooting a matter of 

 the greatest difficulty, for there is but scant time 

 in which to bring the gun to the shoulder and 

 take aim, and the powder must needs be of the 

 straightest description. The first part of the 

 performance is easy enough ; but, alas ! it is the 

 straight powder which is so frequently wanting, 

 and straight powder is, after all, but another name 

 for what are commonly termed * nerves.' We can 

 most of us, at all events shoot well, even bril- 

 liantly, when armed with a walking-stick ; but the 

 instant the latter is exchanged for a shot-gun or 

 rifle, the performance is apt to deteriorate. Happy 

 he who is so constituted as to be absolutely un- 

 affected by the rattle of a covey as it rises out of 

 the roots ; and well indeed would it be for the 

 birds if we were all equally phlegmatic, for their 



