SCOTCH DRIVING 139 



across the valley, and for I wish to take the most 

 difficult instance rather against than with the course 

 of the drive. Here your result depends entirely upon 

 the disposal of the men and the conduct of the drive. 

 You are driving along the face of a hill, and the cross- 

 wind is blowing fairly strong from the ridge or crest of 

 the hill downwards. The natural result of this will be, 

 unless you manage properly, that birds flushed on the 

 higher part of the face will be inclined to turn round 

 and downwards, flying back high over the heads of the 

 beaters. This is the danger to be guarded against. 

 Once the birds have made up their terrified minds 

 to do this they cannot be turned, neither could they 

 turn themselves, with the strong breeze behind them, 

 if they would. 



It therefore follows that this instinct of theirs must 

 be guarded against from or before the start. The 

 head man, with the red flag, starting from the centre 

 1 joint and heading straight for the centre of the line 



1 O O 



of guns, will, instead of having seven men on each side 

 of him (I am allowing fifteen drivers and pointsmen, 

 all told), have five on the windward and nine on the 

 leeward side. 



I have made a diagram, which I hope will convey 

 what I mean. At the bottom of the hill is the burn 

 running along a deep gully. The butts extend at the 



