SHOOTING UNDER A KITE 231 



the " hawk " when in " flight " a number of small " jelly- 

 bags " are suspended from the tail thereof, in the same 

 manner as the paper tail of the old-fashioned type of 

 kite we were wont to fly in our boyhood days. In a high 

 wind it is advisable to place a small stone or a few ounces 

 of shot in the lowermost " jelly-bag," but on the morning 

 in question it was unnecessary for our " peregrine " to 

 carry any extra weight. 



As the kite soared gracefully sk3^wards a somewhat 

 ironical cheer went up from our Afrikander friends, 

 who doubtless imagined that the whole scheme was 

 instituted for the sole purpose of " pulling their legs." 

 For some little time nothing wearing fur or feather was 

 moved, and severe and loud were the volleys of laughter 

 fired at the head of the unfortunate kite-flyer and his 

 " verdomed kid's toy." Suddenly five greywing rose 



from under the very feet of H , the centre gun, 



skimming over the veld at a great pace. Six barrels 

 rang out in quick succession, but never a bird dropped 

 or even faltered in its flight, and so utterly amazed and 

 crestfallen did the worthy sportsmen appear that out of 

 sheer pity we refrained from piling on the agony too 

 mountainous by casting back some of their own stock 

 of sarcasm, or by congratulating them upon the " straight- 

 ness " of their powder. 



The unexpected appearance of the francolin put the 

 guns very much on the qui vive, and no three men ever 

 shot much better than did they on that eventful morning. 

 The francolin, quail, and hares lay like stones under the 

 kite, until in many cases they were literally kicked up 

 by the guns, when, as often as not, they would pass clean 

 over our heads, offering the most difficult shots imaginable. 



