THE FRENCHMAN'S MISHAP 307 



and once in the cheek, and in neither instance was the shooter 

 in the least to blame. In the first instance my brother, Mr. 

 Moreton Berkeley, killed a pheasant flying over an oak tree, and 

 one shot striking either the bird or a bough, glanced doivnwai-ds 

 and hit my knee sufficiently to draw blood. In the other, Mr. 

 Sansom, in Odell AVood, shot at a woodcock going over the copse, 

 and a shot again glanced downwards and drew blood from my 

 cheek, hitting me hard enough to have done mischief if it had 

 touched the eye. If I go out with dangerous guns, it is my 

 plan not only to take care of myself, but of them also, and to 

 put or keep them in such positions, that they cannot injure their 

 friends ; and by this many accidents I am sure have been avoided. 



The most amusing accident that ever was related to me, 

 happened in the covers of a noble lord, who had invited a 

 French diplomatist to shoot ^vith him. The host was near- 

 sighted, and shot in spectacles, while the guest, taking a hint 

 from the garments in which in Paris artists love to depict John 

 Bull, came dressed in white cords and very tight red leather 

 gaiters. The woods were being driven, and the host and his 

 guest stood against trees on the edge of the rides, within shot of 

 each other, standing a little within the bushes to leave the ride 

 open for a shot ; and thus they stood for some time, ere the 

 beaters or the game approached — long enough, it would appear, 

 for the noble lord to forget the pi-ecise position of his friend. 



Tired with waiting, and to amuse himself, or perhaps actuated 

 by a little pardonable vanity, the Frenchman began to admire 

 his gaiter, and to thrust forth the goodly limb, which the verge 

 of the more open ride displayed to better advantage. The noble 

 lord was aroused from his reverie by the appearance of some- 

 thing red on the edge of the cover, which he took for a hare, 

 and as it appeared and disappeared occasionally, as the French- 

 man changed the attitude, the host's spectacles were soon 

 adjusted, and his gun levelled for the next appearance. Out 

 came the leg again, bang went the gun, and with a shout the 

 Frenchman sprang into view, with half-a-dozen shot lodged in 

 the deceiving limb. 



