The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1906-09-18
CHAPTER ].
GoBo STRIKES

ground round the place ne D0ugnr II
Yorkshire, over hundred Of which
were wood.
1T was the second year of his occu-
| patton of the estate, and already lie
had reared very fair head Of pleas
ants, for he was an all-around sports
man, and as fond of shooting with a
shotgun as with an elght-bore rifle.
We were three guns that day, Sir
Henry Curtis, old Quatermain, and my
self, but Sir Henry had to leave in
the middle Of the afternoon in order
to meet his agent and inspect an out
lying farm where new shed was
wanted.
He was, however. coming back to
dinner and going to bring Captain
Good with him, for Brayley Hall was
not more than two miles from the
Grange.
We had met with very fair sport,
considering that we were only going
through outlying covers for cocks.
think that we had killed twenty
seven, a woodcocA and leash of part
ridges, which we had got out of a
driven coyey.
On our way home there lay long,
narrow spinny which was a very IA
vorite Tie for woodcock, and gener-
ally held a pheasant or two as well.
well, what do you say said old
Quatermain-"s shall we beat through
this for a finish?'
assented, and he called to the keep
err, who was following with little
knot Of beaters, and told him to beat
the spinny.
VERY well, sir," answered the man;
.but it's getting wonderful dark, and
the winds rising gale.
TT will take you all your time to
hit woodcock if the spinny holds
one.''
"You show us the woodcock, JEFF
fries,D answered Quatermain, quickly,
for he never liked being crossed in any
thing to co with sport. "and we will
look after shooting them"
The man turned and went rather
sulkily.
heard him say to another keeper:
He's pretty good, the master is, Pm
not saying he isn't, but if he kills a
woodcock In this light and wind, I'm
Dutchman!''
think that Quatermain heard him,
TOO, though he said nothing.
The wind was rising every minute,
and by the time the beat began it was
blowing big guns.
I stool ~ 4ha rsiol.f hand onY.x1nr IA
the spinny, which curved round some
what. and Quatermain stood ait the
left, some forty PAGES from me.
Presently an old cock-pheasant came
rocketing yer me, looking as though
the feathers were all being blown out
Of his tail.
missed him clean with the first
barrel, and was never more pleased
with myself in my life than when
doubled him up with the second, for
the shot was not an easy one.
In the faint light could just see
Quatermain nodding his head in ap-
proval, when through the grooming of
the trees I heard the shouts of the
beaters:
Cock forward"
''Cock to the right"
Then came a whole volley Of shouts:
"Woodcock to the right" Cock to
the left" Cock over"
looked up, and presently caught
sight of one of the woodcocks coming
down the wind upon me like a fash.
In that dim light could not follow
his movements as he zigzagged
through the naked tree tops; indeed,
/ could only see him when his wings
fitted up.
Now he was passing me.
Bang, and flick of the wing.
] had missed him.
Bang again.
Surely he was down.
NO; there he went to my left.
Cock to you, / shouted, stepping
forward SO as to get Quatermain be-
tween me and the faint angry light Of
the dying day. for I wanted to see if
he would wipe my eye"
/ knew him to be wonderful shot,
but that cock would, thought, puzzle
him.
saw him raise his gun ever so little
and bend forward. and at that mo-
ment out flashed two woodcocks into
the open. the one / had missed to his
right, and the other to his left.
AT the same time fresh shout arose
Of "Woodcock over" and looking down
the spinny saw third bird high UP
in the air. being blown along like q
brown and whirling leaf straight over
/ Qnatermain's head.
And then followed the prettiest little
bit Of shooting that ever saw.
The bird to the right was flying low
not ten yards from the line Of The
hedge-row, and Quatermain took hin
first because he would become in
! visible the soonest Of any
Indeed. nobody who had not hi
hawks eyes could have seen to shoe
him.
But he saw him well enough to xii
| him dead as stone.
Then turning sharply be pulled o.
i the second bird at about forty.fvl
4 yards, and over lie went.
BY this time the third woodcock wa
nearly over him and flying very high
straight down the wind, hundtei
| feet up OF more, should say.
saw him glance at il as he opene;
his gun. threw out the right cartridg
and slipped ii another turning roun'
as he did 80.