244 SHOOTING THE PARTRIDGE 



cannot see them, as many of us often have seen, 

 ordered off, after an illiberal lunch of bread and 

 cheese and flat small beer, to stand in their places 

 under a storm of cold rain or sleet, perhaps, thoroughly 

 chilled and soaked until such time as the shooters, 

 having leisurely finished their luxurious hot luncheon 

 under a tent, shall be pleased to take their places 

 one cannot see this, I say, without feeling that such 

 management is as impolitic as it is unkind. 



A very little conversation with or. encouragement 

 to the beaters on each side of you will prove how 

 readily they appreciate being differently treated, and 

 how easy it is to rouse a little keenness in them 

 for the sport in hand. I remember being amply 

 rewarded on one occasion in Yorkshire for showing 

 some consideration for the men .temporarily under 

 my charge, by an outburst of gratitude which called 

 forth a delightfully quaint and original expression. 

 It was a piping hot day, and the men, who had only 

 to tramp while I enjoyed the pleasure of shooting 

 partridges, were quite done up. I ordered a halt, and 

 sent a trap back to the house for a can of beer, which, 

 after a grateful rest in the shade of a huge tree, I was 

 glad enough to share with them. One big burly chap, 

 who had suffered much from the heat, and who spoke 

 his Yorkshire very broad, exclaimed, after in his turn 



