COVERT-SHOOTING. 135 



silently along just over the tree tops to \vards them. 

 His outspread wings do not move, he had attained 

 his requisite elevation and impetus when he rose 

 before the beaters to clear the trees at the further 

 end of the clump. He is lowering now, and ap- 

 parently thinking of a descent to earth just outside 

 the covert, but catching sight of the guns forward 

 he re-agitates his wings and ascends again, as though 

 not fancying a too close proximity to these four 

 suspicious little groups of beings. These groups 

 (of three persons each, i.e., the shooter, loader, and 

 cartridge carrier) on their part are watching him 

 anxiously. Whom will he come to ? Whom will he 

 honour with the responsibility of properly and 

 becomingly taking away his already doomed life ? 

 " first of that fatal day " to his tribe. Has he an 

 inkling of his fate ? It seems so, for he soars 

 higher and higher; but high indeed must he go to 

 be safe from guns like these, and tall as he is when 

 he rockets over the right centre, number two fires, 

 and catching him exactly at the right angle he 



