320 SHOOTING 



The end of the wood had been netted, and a " stop " 

 put on one side where there was an old ditch ; but 

 on the other a little grip with long grass in it, lead- 

 ing from the cover across a field to the old lane, had 

 been left unguarded, as the net was tliought to have 

 been fastened down so closely that nothing could 

 get out ; but the pheasants found the weak place, 

 and undoubtedly strayed by it. 



To insure a good day's pheasant-shooting, thor- 

 oughly trained beaters are absolutely necessary ; 

 and it is equally needful that the guns should remain 

 where they are posted, or if they are to move, only 

 do so exactly as the head-keeper directs. Nothing 

 is more annoying, both to master and keeper, than 

 having a good day spoiled because two or three of 

 the guns will get together to hear or tell the last 

 new story, and consequently let the pheasants escape 

 by not being at their proper posts. If you have 

 the good fortune to be placed by the net at the end 

 of the beat, you will find that, besides having the 

 best place for sport, great amusement can be derived 

 by noticing the behaviour of the various kinds of 

 game as they come up to it. Soon after you have 

 taken your position, the rattle of sticks is heard, 

 showing that the beat has begun, and shortly a sup- 

 pressed shout indicates that a rabbit is up ; for the 

 best-trained beaters in England cannot resist giving 



