BEGINNING TO SHOOT 115 



as I write now, the daily party consisting of one 

 gun — myself — a gamekeeper and four dogs (two 

 terriers and two spaniels), and am every bit as 

 keen on the sport to-day as when I handled my 

 first breech-loader. 



Much of my early shooting was in the nature of 

 a solitary sport. This had its advantages and its 

 drawbacks. Sporting constantly without a com- 

 panion, you have probably not quite the stimulus 

 which the natural and wholesome competition of a 

 companion of about your own age will give. Pro- 

 bably I should have excelled more in the gun if I had 

 been often matched, as it were, against a friendly 

 rival of my own standing. I had fame as a rabbit 

 shot — strictly a local fame, be it understood — when 

 a youngster. Gamekeepers, gardeners' boys, and 

 folk generally about the place declared, after I had 

 shot for a season or two, that I was ^^just about a 

 one to cut them (i.e. rabbits) over." This tradition 

 took root, and to this day strangers are wont to ac- 

 cost me as a strong performer with the gun. They 

 should see me some days when I am just behind or 

 just over — it is much more often behind than over 

 — rabbit after rabbit : when rabbits going across, 

 offering perfect broadside shots, rabbits going 

 straight away, rabbits coming towards the gun, 

 alike seem so very hard to stop. Emulation might 

 well have made me a better performer. It would 

 possibly have helped to prevent me growing into a 

 shy shot. Thanks largely no doubt to the spirit of 

 emulation, I learned to play billiards and pyramids 



