156 A Sportsman at Large 



So my Cuban friend had spotted two out oj the three placed 

 in a field of seventy-four shooters ! 



" Marvellous ! " I exclaimed. " Are you a clairvoyant, 

 Jimmie ? What on earth made you select me as the probable 

 winner ? " 



" Because, my Cockie," he replied, " I have carefully 

 noted your form, and how a wind such as we have to-day 

 suits your style. Journu is always there or thereabouts, and 

 Turner-Turner does not give the birds time to benefit' by 

 the breeze. See ! " 



Reasonable enough ; but, faith, it was good picking 

 sure-ly ! 



So here was I overtaking ambition at a bound ; for next 

 to the Monte Carlo " Blue Ribbon/' " The International 

 Cup " was supreme El Dorado of the pigeon- shooter who 

 places glory before pelf ; though, for the matter of that, there 

 was considerable dross involved in the winning of the latter. 



On this occasion I increased my bank balance by close on 

 a " monkey," as well as becoming the proud possessor of the 

 most highly and artistically wrought piece of plate that had 

 ever been offered for the event in question. Of course I had 

 a go at the even distance (thirty yards) affair which followed, 

 and actually succeeded in accounting for four birds before, 

 at last, my sequence of kills was broken, and then there were 

 only five others left in ! 



I have been always very proud of this win. I think I have 

 a right to be ; but, as a matter of fact, my victory in " Le 

 Grand Prix de Cloture " at Monte Carlo was a far greater 

 tribute to my skill ; for in the latter event I was competing 

 on even terms with some of the world's greatest shots, whereas 

 the " International " was a handicap, and some of the " cracks " 

 were conceding me from five to eight yards on the official list, 

 and from three to six as regards the actual mark from which 

 I chose to shoot ! 



