MANAGEMENT OF MOORS 77 



most cheeper could hear the breathing of the dog 

 most uncomfortably close, when with a "kuk- 

 kuk ! ■" the Old Cock was on the wing. 



" Bang ! 11 went one barrel, and he could hear 

 the shot dust the heather behind him. 



" Missed, by Jove ! " he said to himself as he 

 swung with the wind. 



" Whirr ! " the covey were up behind him. 



" Bang ! " again, and this time he heard the 

 pellets whizz to one side. 



" Missed again ! 11 said he, " the duffer ! " 



" Bang ! " and then " bang ! " went the middle 

 man's gun, but the man with white gaiters was 

 still safely down by the burn. 



Away flew the covey, skimming low over the 

 heather, till they were beyond a ridge, and there 

 was nothing but empty moorland around them. 

 Like the opening of a fan the Old Cock's wings 

 rose as he settled. 



" And now, gentlemen," said he, " let us count 

 our losses. 1 '' 



It was the first time they had been addressed 

 as "gentlemen, 11 and they knew that they had 

 passed their test and were real grown-up grouse 

 at last. 



"We are reduced to seven, 11 replied the heir- 

 presumptive with a nonchalant air he thought 

 appropriate to the occasion. 



" The deuce we are ! 11 exclaimed his father. 

 " The man with the glasses bagged a brace, did 

 he ? Well, gentlemen, I flatter myself we gave 



