A Sportsman at Large 141 



Charles," we again found ourselves on " The Beauty Spot of 

 the Riviera," this time accompanied by our wives and a 

 mutual brother-in-law. Then it was that I ventured to 

 make a start to try my luck at " The Traps." 



At that time there was a small pigeon ground outside 

 Monaco, at Cap D'Ail, near the station of La Turbie. This 

 was used chiefly for practising purposes and for private matches, 

 though on Monte Carlo off days a programme was sometimes 

 drawn up, and some modest but tasteful ofyet d'art offered for 

 competition in the principal event on the card. 



The inducements were not sufficient to attract " the knuts," 

 but some of the less conspicuous shooters would avail them- 

 selves of the chance of picking up a prize in less exalted 

 company. 



Roberts took me here to see how I would shape. I had 

 come provided with a twelve-bore pigeon gun, specially built 

 for me by W. W. Greener. This was the first hammerless 

 gun I had ever shot with. 



The birds provided were not of first-class quality in fact 

 they were a decidedly " mixed lot " but still an opportunity 

 was afforded me to make myself familiar with the amenities 

 and conventions of the game. 



We arrived an hour before the time set down for the com- 

 mencement of the official programme, as Roberts was anxious 

 that I should have a dozen birds all to myself, just for prac- 

 tice. Well, I downed my first bird (a precious slow one, 

 be it said) out of a trap, and only used one barrel in the doing. 

 Going on, I grassed nine out of the twelve. Not so bad, 

 considering that here and there quite a decent pigeon was 

 released. When the small company had assembled, the 

 order of the day was proceeded with. The first item was a 

 " pool "one louis, one bird (meaning, first miss out). 



I killed five straight and divided with a Russian Grand 

 Duke. So as in the case of my racing under Rules I scored 

 at the first attempt, but it was a very modest achievement, 

 and after all, only " a dead heat." 



Now came the contest for the objet d'art. This was a 

 very pretty silver epergne, which I longed to annex, that I 

 might lay it at the feet of my " C.O." ; but it was not to be ! 



