25* 1fcin09 of tbe 1Rot>, IRffle, an& 



hundred partridges at the end of it. The dogs found a 

 scent under every turnip ; they were totally bewildered, 

 and in a few minutes Most their noses' altogether. 

 They rushed here and they rushed there partridges 

 were rising every moment ; they ' backed/ they jumped 

 in the air in their excitement, trying to catch the birds, 

 and finally rushed after some, giving tongue like hounds. 

 They followed them into the next turnip-field and 

 cleared it also. It was very trying and very provoking, 

 but at the same time was so absurd that Captain Greville 

 and I burst out laughing. However, time was passing, 

 and I had not as yet fired a shot, and I heard my 

 opponent hard at work. I sent my two attendants to 

 try and catch the dogs, and in about half an hour they 

 returned with them in couples. I then put a man on 

 each side, and walked through the fields, and at sunset 

 had bagged forty brace. 



On my way to the Hall a fine old farmer joined me 

 a Mr. Denny. He said he was one of Mr. Coke's prin- 

 cipal tenants, but in spite of that he could not bear to 

 see me defeated by mere bad luck and ignorance of the 

 country ; that I was the best shot they had ever seen, 

 but that I knew no more how to work Norfolk partridges 

 than a child ; and that I must be beaten unless I altered 

 my system. He then told me that his farm was the 

 one on which I was to shoot the second day, and that if 

 I would call on him the next forenoon (i.e., the inter- 

 vening day) he would give me some hints that would be 

 useful. On reaching the Hall I found that Mr. Coke 

 had killed fifty-four brace, so that I started the second 

 day fourteen brace behind him. 



