MORE DRIVING 229 



It must be confessed that all the 

 advice given on shooting driven grouse, 

 the precepts to keep cool and steady, 

 never to get flustered, and to choose this 

 bird and that bird to fire at, are but 

 counsels of perfection to the novice. 



The flight of driven grouse is most dis- 

 concerting to those unversed in their ways : 

 you think you are keeping a close look- 

 out, when suddenly a bird appears within 

 a yard of your nose, having apparently 

 come from nowhere, or you will see them 

 a long way in front, a long dark line 

 against the heather, and before you know 

 where you are, they will have silently and 

 rapidly swept over your head and vanished 

 into space, leaving you with a smoking 

 gun and empty chambers, supremely 

 conscious that you haven't ruffled a single 

 feather, but without the vaguest notion 

 as to which bird in particular you 

 honoured with your attentions. 



But, for goodness' sake, do not be 

 disheartened by want of success at first; 

 you may scarcely touch a bird the first 



