i8o SHOOTING THE GROUSE 



is still keen enough, as a rule, to go out on his own 

 account, and show his prowess in circumventing and 

 securing birds without the aid of an array of beaters 

 or drivers. 



Let me conduct such a one with me on to the 

 moor, and, presuming that he already knows some- 

 thing of the habits of the grouse, of the handling of 

 his gun, and of the ways of his retriever, let me see, 

 with all diffidence, if any hints that I can give will be 

 of any service to him. 



Now mount your pony, and let us be off together. 

 The other guns will follow soon, and we shall, at any 

 rate, be first on the ground and into our places early. 

 The drivers will start three miles from the first line 

 of butts by time. It is, therefore, important that we 

 should be on the spot punctually, or the birds will be 

 coming over before we are there. Look to your girths 

 before you get up, or your saddle may go round with 

 you, and leave you in the middle of the road as we 

 go down the hill. Through the little village we clat- 

 ter, hustling the ducks and chickens out of the road- 

 way, at that short and uncomfortable canter which 

 appears specially to distinguish the hill pony. Round 

 the bend at the end of the street, almost grazing our 

 knees against the stone wall, as oui ponies hustle 

 round the sharp turn, over the grey bridge that spans 



