FOR YOUNG SHOOTERS 19 



at the most fantastic distances, without regard to 

 the lives and limbs of the rest of the party ; (2) that 

 (in most cases) everybody missed him ; (3) that 

 everybody, though having, according to his own 

 version, been especially careful himself, has been 

 placed in imminent peril by the recklessness of the 

 rest ; (4) that everybody threw himself flat on his 

 face to avoid death ; and (5), that the woodcock is 

 not really a bird at all, but a devil. The following 

 is suggested as an example of Woodcock dialogue, 

 the scene being laid at lunch : 



First Sportsman (pausing in his attack on a plate- 

 ful of curried rabbit). By Jupiter! that was a 

 smartish woodcock. I never saw the beggar till he 

 all but flew into my face, and then away he went 

 like a streak of greased lightning. I let him have 

 both barrels ; but I might as well have shot at a 

 gnat. Still, I fancy I tickled him up with my left. 



Second Sportsman (a stout, jovial man, breaking 

 in). Tickled him up ! By gum, I thought I was 

 going to be tickled up, I tell you. Shot was flying 

 all round me bang ! bang ! all over the place. I 

 loosed off twice at him, and then went down, to 

 avoid punishment. Haven't a notion what became 

 of him. 



c 2 



