152 LEAVES FKOM A GAME BOOK, 



and placed so that their occupants cannot shoot each 

 other. Usually a stone is pulled from the top of the 

 dyke, and then placing some bracken or a sheaf of corn 

 on it, with a game bag over all, a dry and easy seat to 

 shoot from is made, but it must be built of such a height 

 as not to show the shooter's cap over the top of the wall. 

 Places having been arranged, each gun takes a seat, one 

 keeper withdrawing to a distance behind the cornfield, 

 while, if there is a second man out, he proceeds to 

 conceal himself on the other side of the stubble ; by 

 which distribution of forces, as birds settle near either 

 of them, they can frequently be moved back over the 

 heads of the guns. 



For the first half hour the weapon will probably lie 

 across the knees while a pipe is smoked, when, as a 

 matter of course, the very moment attention is relaxed, 

 a covey will come over the wall, to pass by unshot 

 at. Annoyed at losing such a chance, the culprit now 

 continues to sit at the ready, until suddenly a gentle 

 rushing sound strikes his ear, and the next moment 

 finds himself literally smothered in a great pack of 



