Old Ben. 127 



found of great and real assistance. He it was 

 who taught me how to get at a duck by 

 walking to the corners and bends of the stream, 

 thus not showing myself by walking all the 

 way down it ; also how to get an easy shot at 

 snipe by walking down wind, and as they 

 almost invariably fly against it, they have to 

 come round you, and thus present a much 

 easier shot. He taught me where to find all 

 the best trout, jack, and perch, and after he 

 had seen my first performance at partridges, 

 he soon put me right, and told me where I 

 failed. 



" When you are shooting at a partridge," 

 said Ben, " keep a little above him when you 

 fire, and he'll fly into the shot ; but mind you 

 don't drop the muzzle of your gun at the very 

 instant of pulling the trigger." 



Now this is what most bad shots do ; their 

 aim may be true enough, but if, at the very 

 moment of pulling, the muzzle is lowered in 

 ever so slight a degree, the shot hits the bird 

 in the rump or about the legs, and this is the 

 cause of so many birds being tailored, and 

 going away wounded. Remember then to 

 hold on your bird for a moment after you 



