SHOOTING 23 



mind of this being unsuccessful, I shortly 

 afterwards left Castle Gormuck, never to 

 return. 



6. 



No sportsman should ever entirely lose sight 

 of the fact that almost all game is destined sooner 

 or later for the pot; it should always, therefore, 

 be shot within what is technically known as 

 " kitchen range," and never so mutilated as to 

 be fit for little else but mince. Nothing used to 

 cause my uncle so much annoyance as the 

 spectacle of his pheasants being blown to pieces 

 by guns who did not appreciate the necessity of 

 leaving something besides a portion of beak and 

 a few tail-feathers for the chef to practice his 

 culinary art upon. " Let 'em rise, can't you ?" 

 Sir Noel would shout with ill-concealed irritation 

 when one of his guests had poured a broadside 

 into some confiding bird which seemed desirous 

 of roosting on his hat; and I have even known 

 him go so far with an habitual offender as to 

 take his gun away from him, slap his hands, and 

 send him home without any luncheon. 



But if my uncle waxed justly indignant with 

 amateur butchers, he was no less strict with 

 sportsmen who fired hopefully at game which 

 was obviously out of shot, and would use the 

 most appalling language when he saw birds 



