WALKING UP 173 



was lucky enough to take part in it on several 

 occasions. Lord Leicester's name has been famous 

 these many years for his consummate skill in the 

 management and organisation of shooting, and cer- 

 tainly when he directed the half-moon it was a most 

 beautifully executed manoeuvre, very effective and 

 very simple withal. 



I need hardly say that complete discipline must 

 be maintained by both shooters and beaters, as it 

 invariably was at Holkham. 



On entering the field, the line of six guns is formed 

 at the base, the spaces between the men being very 

 evenly kept. On a signal from the host, or person 

 directing the operations, who must always be at or 

 near the centre, the two outside men, who must be 

 shooters, begin to advance straight up the field. 

 When they have proceeded say ten yards, another 

 wave of the hand directs the next two to begin 

 moving, and so on until the whole are in motion, 

 none venturing to advance without signal from the 

 commander-in-chief ; the centre keeping well back 

 until the last, and often until the outside men have 

 advanced more than half-way up the field. By this 

 time a great many shots will generally have been 

 fired, especially by the flank men, at birds breaking 

 out at the sides. But presently the birds lying in the 



