114 SHOOTING THE GROUSE 



the ground favours you, running along between the 

 hags, keeping carefully off the stones, and so getting 

 noiselessly and rapidly up to the dog. 



In all these instances it will be observed how very 

 difficult it becomes for t\vo guns to work harmoniously 

 together so as to realise the best possible result ; but 

 at least it should be agreed between them that, where- 

 ever speed is necessary, the man nearest to the point 

 should get to it without waiting for the other other- 

 wise many chances must be lost. The two shooters 

 should, therefore, be as evenly matched as possible. 

 I think, where two parties go out on separate 

 beats, it is better to send the two better or more 

 active and the two slower together; each pair will 

 enjoy their day more than on the mistaken principle 

 of sending a good gun to ' nurse ' a bad one. This, 

 unless they are both angels from heaven, is a trial of 

 temper and a mortification to both. 



In very calm warm weather at the beginning of 

 the season, where the cover is thick and the birds 

 plentiful and tame, any two or even three men can 

 take turn and turn about, and manage the amenities 

 of the pursuit as easily as if they were beating a 

 cabbage garden for very young partridges ; but this, 

 though much affected by some gentlemen from town, 

 and by dog producers I will not call them breakers 



