62 How I Became a Sportsmax. 



minutes to help up a sheep which had got 

 on its back, and put his gun down against a 

 tree, and I took the opportunity of extracting 

 the shot. We said nothing when he came 

 back, but went on beating the ground. Pre- 

 sently the dogs stood ; we walked up to them, 

 and up got a splendid covey of birds about 

 thirty yards off. We fired all six barrels, and 

 down dropped four birds. Old F. said very 

 quietly, whilst he began to load, "Did you 

 kill, sir ? " addressing me. " Didn't you hear 

 me shoot ? " said I. " That's my bird on the 

 left," said old F. I said ''Oh, no; I killed 

 the two left birds, and the Squire the two 

 which fell to the right." " I'll swear, if ever 

 I killed a bird in my life, that's my bird." 



We could stand it no longer, and burst 

 out into uncontrollable laughter. " Whatever 

 are you laughing at, sir, what are you laughing 

 at?" said old F., continuing to load with all 

 the coolness in the world, and looking very 

 pleased ; for I verily believe he thought he 

 had killed the bird. Old F. then began to 

 get serious, then red in the face, and although 

 I never saw him commit himself before his 

 landlord, before or since (he had a goodish 



