TYPES OF SHOOTERS 193 



expended on that rabbit the equivalent of its full 

 market value. 



To show how far some shooters can jump to a 

 conclusion, here are two incidents with which as a 

 keeper I had to contend. It was not a big day ; 

 and I, having a gun, was standing in a side-ride, 

 while four shooters were forward. I was watching 

 an old cock on the ground, apparently considering 

 his next move, for his case seemed somewhat evil. 

 Bang ! and the stuff shivered a couple of yards above 

 the pheasant, and, it seemed to me, at a level about 

 right for the beaters, who were none too far back ; 

 however, the shot helped the pheasant to make up 

 his mind, and he rose with a great splutter, flew 

 forward, and was neatly stopped by the gun on the 

 left of the man who had fired well, a little pre- 

 viously. When the beat was done I was informed 

 that there were two pheasants to pick up, one in 

 front and one behind the ride in which the guns 

 stood. The bird I knew so much about was the 

 only one in the beat, fell behind, and I picked him 

 up ; but the anticipating shooter insisted that he had 

 another in front. I suggested that the bird I had 

 picked up was his bird, which might have got up 

 again. ' Oh dear no/ he explained ; ' I saw him 

 on the ground (which I believed), and directly he 

 opened his wings and flew I had a cut at him and 

 downed him.' I had to waste time pretending to 

 look for that bird, and finally regretted to say that 



13 



