FOR YOUNG SHOOTERS 61 



relative merits of the old plan of shooting birds 

 over dogs and the modern methods of walking 

 them up or driving. These are not the only, but 

 certainly the chief, ingredients. Let me give you 

 an example, drawn from my note-book. 



SCENE The Smoking-room of a Country-house in 

 December. Six Sportsmen in Smoking-coats 



Time 11.15 P.M. 



First Sportsman (concluding a harangue). All 

 I can say is I never read such rot in all my life. 

 Why, the fellow doesn't know a gun from a cart- 

 ridge-bag. I'm perfectly sick of reading that 

 everlasting rubbish about ' pampered minions of 

 the aristocracy slaughtering the unresisting phea- 

 sant in his thousands at battues.' I wonder what 

 the beggars imagine a rocketing pheasant is like. 

 I should like to have seen one of 'em outside Chivy 

 Wood to-day. I never saw taller birds in my life. 

 Talk of them being easy ! Why, a pheasant gets 

 ever so much more show for his money when he's 

 beaten over the guns. If they simply walk him 

 up, he hasn't got a thousand to one chance. Bah ! 



[Drinks from a long glass. 



