ENGLISH DRIVING 185 



scape. Toy-like as it appears from here, that is a 

 northern express going at fifty miles an hour, and it 

 has even now passed out of sight. 



There ! On the rocky ridge afar off is a flash of 

 something white; it is no, yes a driver's flag; there 

 is another, showing black against the sunlit moor to the 

 right yes, there they are, all or nearly all in sight, 

 'and in the shape of a perfect horseshoe. 'The birds 

 will not be here for some time yet,' you say. No, 

 but I should take my gun and be on the watch for an 

 odd lot often comes over very early off the flank of 

 the drive. Look out, here are birds ! ' Black and 

 mysterious looking, a little pack of some five-and- 

 twenty suddenly show on the ridge about a hundred 

 yards in front. Rapidly and silently they come along 

 the riclge straight for your neighbour, No. 5. Whistle 

 to him, it is only fair play but it is too late, for ///;//. 

 Some hasty movement of his or his neighbour's 

 beyond, and in an instant they have swerved and are 

 coming right down on us. ' Take the first one,' One 

 two well done ; that second one isn't down yet, 

 but badly hit ; ah ! there he comes, stone dead I 

 should say, just this side of that little knoll with the 

 shining bit of white grass below it. I shall get him 

 for you all right after the drive, when we hunt the 

 ground behind. l>y this time you are very much on 



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