OLD MICHAELMAS DAY 303 



who has picked them, return your 

 modest score to the man with the card, 

 and are ready to be off by the time 

 your host's reminder, " This way, guns, 

 please," is heard from the far end of 

 the field. 



The second drive is not so prolific, for 

 which you are not altogether sorry, 

 because the birds are being brought in 

 from the boundary ; and to make sure of 

 their coming on, the guns are placed 

 rather closer up to a high fence than is 

 conducive to comfort in shooting. Half 

 an hour later you are taking your place 

 as No. 4 in a valley which looks as if it 

 had been made for the express purpose of 

 driving partridges over. With a thrill of 

 pleasurable excitement, you realize that 

 this is the famous 'valley of death' 

 the most killing drive on one of the finest 

 partridge beats in England. 



First, you choose a good level stand 

 on the close smooth turf, see that your 

 loader has got card and pencil handy 

 this may well be a big drive for you, 



