302 PARTRIDGES 



eye as it skims along the top of the hedge, 

 or turns away back into the drive the 

 latter always a difficult bird to stop. 



A cock pheasant first of the season 

 that rises some way down the cross fence 

 is a real good bird by the time he gets to 

 you, and two more single and simple 

 partridges from the corner of the turnips 

 are all that fall to your lot before the 

 swish of the flags just the other side of 

 the fence tells you that the first drive is 

 over. Keepers, loaders, and guns are 

 soon scattered about the meadow picking 

 up the slain, so you see both your guns 

 unloaded, pick up the half-dozen birds 

 that are lying in the open, send the two 

 that your neighbour nearly dropped on 

 your head to be added to his little pile, 

 and try your dog down the fence for that 

 bird which may well be a runner. The 

 scent is still bad after the heavy dew, 

 and it is ten minutes before ' Nelson ' runs 

 the fugitive to ground fifty yards away. 

 You have still a brace more in the 

 turnips, which you collect from the keeper 



