Captain Doratio IRoas 253 



Next day I called on Mr. Denny and we rode over 

 the farm, and his instructions were : ' Early in the 

 morning ride the stubble all round this field ' (a very 

 large field of turnips which he pointed out), ' and drive 

 the birds into it. I will lend you two old setters which 

 have only two eyes between them ; they will potter about 

 within fifteen and twenty yards, and will help to find 

 dead birds. Place your men one on each side, and beat 

 the field in small circles. If you go straight through it, 

 the birds will run to the end and then rise in one great 

 pack ; but by making small circles you will cut them off 

 and get shots. The large field will keep you going until 

 9 o'clock, and then go to another large field of turnips ' 

 (which he showed me). 



I followed the old gentleman's instructions to the 

 letter. I got 50 shots in the first field, and by 9 o'clock 

 had bagged 50 partridges. I missed one shot, but killed 

 two at a shot afterwards. The result of the day's shoot- 

 ing was that I bagged 59 brace, Mr. Coke 36 ; so that 

 on the two days' shooting I was 9 brace ahead. 



Mr. W. Coke was not a first-class shot, but he was a 

 perfect sportsman. He thoroughly understood how to get 

 at game ; and although he was not so accurate in his 

 shooting as some of the acknowledged great shots of his 

 day, he was very quick, and, as a general rule, killed 

 more game whenever he went out than other people did. 

 He had also dogs that were perfectly adapted for 

 Norfolk shooting : they were bred between setters and 

 water-spaniels. When on scent they never pointed but 

 went on, their tails straight out, and put their birds up ; 

 >ut as they were broken to keep within twenty-five to 



