258 MANUAL FOE YOUNG SPORTSMEN. 



Having entered his ground then to windward, the 

 young sportsman will continue to beat as much as possible 

 down wind. He will himself walk, and encourage his dog 

 to hunt, as fast as possible, over what seems unlikely 

 ground. But if the dog seems bent on hunting any par- 

 ticular spot slowly, he should not cross him — probably the 

 dog has his reasons, and is the better judge. Where the 

 ground looks likely, or where he knows there are birds, he 

 cannot hunt too slowly. 



If the dog seem inclined to point, feathering and 

 drawing carefully, it is well to step up toward him gently, 

 paying in a low guarded voice, " Steady ! Steady ! " or, 

 " Have a care ! " When he points, let the sportsman get 

 to windward of his point, come down on him carefully, 

 holding the gun as described at page 135, and be as cool 

 as he can. When the snipe springs, let him shoot it, if 

 he can. 



The reason why it is recommended to come down wind 

 on the snipe, is this; that he always rises up wind, and 

 goes away at sharp, short zigzags, tack and tack in the 

 teeth of it, and the harder it blows, the faster he flies and 

 the more he tacks. 



By going down wind on him, the shooter forces him to 

 rise in his face, and to go off either to the right or to the 

 left hand, affording him a cross shot, which is always the 

 easiest shot. 



The snipe always hangs, when first rising, for a second 

 on the wing before he gets under way, and for that second 

 he is almost motionless. This I consider, unless he be 

 decidedly too near, so that the shot must tear him, or like 



