THE END 343 



down the 20-bore, not forgetting first to 

 light my pipe, and sallied forth — to the 

 astonishment of my better half at the 

 unorthodox hour — with a couple of dachs- 

 hunds at my heels. Where to try? It 

 must obviously not be too far. The 

 shrubbery behind the orangery is generally 

 good for a bird, but it is overhung with 

 trees, and apt to become dark early. 

 Not a hundred yards from the house 

 is a long gorsy field of about a score of 

 acres, surrounded by high wood. The edge 

 of those woodlands should do. So I put 

 my best foot foremost, and reach the top 

 edge of this field soon after five — quite light 

 enough to shoot. A hundred yards on, the 

 doe beoins to feather on the o^rass between 

 two thorny patches of dry bracken. Query, 

 rabbits ? Both are busy now, but silent. 



