DAYS IN THE STUBBLES 53 



or animal. A blackcock and a wild duck will 

 teach one more of the difficult art of stalking 

 than any birds I know, and exercise one's 

 patience and ingenuity sorely before one or 

 other is put in the bag. 



And now it is time to get to business, so 

 a truce to further meanderings, though to 

 remain up on the moor tempted me sorely ; 

 but the field of the plough was getting 

 black-speckled, so I hied me down to a 

 likely seeming place for the birds' flight 

 both in and out of the field. Luck certainly 

 befriended me, for no sooner had I got into 

 position behind the wall, ranged cartridges in 

 rows on a flat stone in order to reload quickly, 

 than a regular cross fire of birds began to fly 

 near me. Lol of course spied my grey cap 

 keeking over the dyke, and managed to drive 

 a good many of the feeding birds straight at 

 my stand. 



The first to come was a big covey of grouse, 

 and the fun began by two birds dropping to 

 one shot. Then came a big old blackcock on 

 his way to supper, which, alas ! for him, he 



