ON GROUSE-DRIVING 191 



beaters, on whose goodwill and staying 

 powers the result so largely depends, 

 should be treated considerately in this 

 respect. It is too common to hear it said 

 among the guns, who incidentally break- 

 fasted heartily about four hours before : 

 " Oh, we don't mind lunching late ; let's 

 have them back first." Of course they 

 don't mind lunching late — why should 

 they ? But what of the unfortunate 

 beaters, some of whom probably had to 

 walk anything up to ten miles to get here 

 before the shooting began, and have now 

 gone without food for eight or nine 

 hours ? It is not thus that the best service 

 is earned, and it is never a mistake rather 

 to curtail the work of the morning, and 

 look for better work from the men when 

 they have fed — and well fed they should 

 be, it may be added. 



The length a drive should be cannot 

 be fixed ; the drives on a small but 

 heavily stocked moor in Yorkshire may 

 be less than a mile in length, whereas, in 

 the Highlands, the beaters may take in 



