DRIVING 141 



bird with both barrels, and by a fluke I killed it 

 quite dead at about seventy yards off, close to the 

 boundary ; but the dog who retrieved the birds, and 

 who was allowed loose during the bye-shooting, was 

 careering about some eight or ten yards in front, and 

 between me and the bird. Instead of rushing after 

 it, he yelled and ran in among us, with his tail down, 

 whimpering ; a shot from my gun had penetrated his 

 head through the thick hair, and drawn blood. That 

 it was a diverging or dropping shot was proved by 

 my having the luck to kill the bird, the line of which 

 was much above him, while the force with which it 

 struck him was remarkable. But they used to chaff 

 and call out, 'Who shot the dog?' to me often 

 afterwards, and I have never fired directly over any 

 one since, except at a high elevation. The gunmaker's 

 assistants present, men who are constantly 'plating' 

 guns, told us that so well did they know this danger 

 that they never allowed one of their own dogs to run 

 about in front when they were shooting trials. Yet 

 I have seen men who are good and careful shots 

 plugging away at birds coming at them over the fence, 

 with their loving wives or children sitting under it, 

 and exactly exposed to this risk. Close behind the 

 gun and his loader, in a sitting or kneeling posture, is 

 the safest and most convenient place for spectators. 



