COVERT-SHOOTING. 153 



So at the end of a covert in which little had been 

 found, and that little not properly " brought to the 

 gun," the head keeper was summoned, and, all 

 resplendent in green and gold as he was, advanced 

 with abject mien, faltering some trembling excuses to 

 his now almost rabid master, who, cutting these 

 sternly short, asked : " Shall we find more in the next 

 covert?'' "I hope so, my lord." "Hope, sir!" 

 roared the peer, with terrific emphasis on the verb. 

 " Do you think I give you ^100 a year to hope f 

 Now, go and beat that wood this way, and I'll post 

 the guns." " Your lordship means this wood?" said 

 the terrified functionary, pointing to another. " No, 

 I don't." " But, my lord " expostulated the man, 

 now more alarmed than ever. " Not a word, sir ; obey 

 orders!" Irresolute, and evidently much perplexed, 

 the wretched man marched off with his army and beat 

 the wood, in which there was absolutely nothing. 

 Terrible then to see was the wrath of the baffled 

 so. dier, till the miserable keeper, seeing he was about 

 to be dismissed on the spot, cried out in heart-rending 



