BLACKGAME 253 



has found three birds from the first 

 drive coming along, which brings the 

 total up to twenty-eight for the two 

 drives. 



An improvised grouse drive on the 

 moor above yields a few brace of grouse, 

 after which you eat your sandwiches in 

 one of the butts, washed down with a 

 modest allowance of Long John, tempered 

 with cold spring water, with just an " eke " 

 of the pure spirit to finish up with. 



The next half-hour is not the least 

 pleasant of the day, for the autumn sun 

 is hot, the heather dry and fragrant, and 

 it is good to lie full length on your back, 

 and follow the flight of a pair of buzzards 

 who rise in sweeping circles till they seem 

 mere specks against the blue, or idly mark 

 how the cloud shadows are chasing one 

 another along the rounded slopes of the 

 distant hills. 



But the day draws on, and, half- 

 unwillingly, though you would be the 

 last to admit it, you rise, shake yourself, 

 knock out your pipe, and start on the 



