154 THE FIRST BIRD KILLED. [CH. ix. 



lifting a foot or even raising a shoulder, or the agitation 

 of his stern will be an indication, stop for some seconds, 

 and when by your raised hand you have awed him into 

 steadiness, again creep on. Make your approaches within 

 his sight, so that he may be intimidated by your eye 

 and hand. If you succeed in getting near him without 

 unsettling him, actually stay by him, as firm as a statue, 

 for a quarter of an hour by one of Barwise's best chrono- 

 meters. Let your manner, which he will observe, show 

 great earnestness. Never mind the loss of time. You 

 are giving the dog a famous lesson, and the birds are 

 kindly aiding you by lying beautifully and not shifting 

 their ground.* 



265. Now attempt a grand coup, in which if you are 

 successful, you may almost consider your dog made 

 staunch for ever. Keeping your eye on him, and your 

 hand up (of course the right one), make a circuit, so 

 that the birds shall be between him and you. Be 

 certain that your circle is sufficiently wide, if it is not, 

 the birds may get up behind you, and so perplex him, 

 that at his next find he will feel doubtful how to act. 

 Fire at no skirter, or chance shot. Eeserve yourself for 

 the bird or birds at which he points ; a caution more 

 necessary on the moors than on the stubbles, as grouse 

 spread while feeding. When you have well headed him, 

 walk towards him and spring the birds. Use straight 

 shooting-powder. Take a cool aim well forward, and 

 knock down one. Do not flurry the dog by firing more 

 than a single barrel, or confuse him by killing more 

 than one bird. If you have been able to accomplish all 

 this without his stirring (though, to effect it, you may 

 have been obliged to use your voice), you have every 



* Should they (unluckily for deavour to minage as detailed in 

 the lesson) run', you must en- 285. 



