i86 SHOOTING THE GROUSE 



the look-out, and so I now see are our neighbours, 

 but there probably won't be any more for some little 

 time. That little pack were all old birds, sitting on 

 some bare place upon the ridge, and had got up 

 thinking to sneak away long before the drivers came 

 really near. And let me point out to you that, had 

 your neighbour been 'watching out' as we were, the 

 lot would never have swerved, but would have gone 

 straight by him, an easy chance ; whereas as things 

 are, he is either unconscious or furious, no matter 

 which, and you are a brace of birds to the good, 

 which he will only put down as an item of your extra- 

 ordinary good luck. 



Now keep a sharp watch, and especially to your 

 left. The birds that come over the ridge on the right 

 must show well against the sky, and those in front 

 will tell black against the sunlight of the opposite face; 

 but those that come up the hill from the left, having 

 crossed the gully without our seeing them, will be 

 creeping very low over the heather, so that with the 

 sun shining on their bodies they will be very difficult 

 to see against the ground, and get right up to us un- 

 awares, unless we are careful. Here they come, just 

 from the point I warned you of, seven or eight of 

 them, close to the top of the heather and very slow, 

 for they have a little wind against them, have come a 



