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grove they hovered； preparing to alight； for of us they could see
nothing； one at a distance of about fifty and the other of； say；
seventy yards away。 I took the nearest； got on to it； allowing for the
drop and the angle； and touched the trigger of the rifle； which fell
to my shoulder very sweetly。 The bullet struck that pigeon on the
crop； out of which fell a shower of acorns that it had been eating； as
it sank to the ground stone dead。 Number two pigeon； realizing danger；
began to mount upwards almost straight。 I fired the second barrel； and
by good luck shot its head off。 Then I snatched the other rifle； which
Charles had been loading automatically； from his outstretched hand；
for at that moment I saw two more pigeons coming。 At the first I
risked a difficult shot and hit it far back； knocking out its tail；
but bringing it； still fluttering； to the ground。 The other； too； I
covered； but when I touched the trigger there was a click； no more。
This was my opportunity of coming even with Charles； and I availed
myself of it。
〃Young man；〃 I said； while he gaped at me open…mouthed； 〃you should
learn to be careful with rifles； which are dangerous weapons。 If you
give one to a shooter that is not loaded； it shows that you are
capable of anything。〃
Then I turned； and addressing Lord Ragnall； added：
〃I must apologize for that third shot of mine； which was infamous； for
I committed a similar fault to that against which I warned you； sir；
and did not fire far enough ahead。 However； it may serve to show your
attendant the difference between the tail of a pigeon and an oak
leaf；〃 and I pointed to one of the feathers of the poor bird； which
was still drifting to the ground。
〃Well； if this here snipe of a chap ain't the devil in boots！〃
exclaimed Charles to himself。
But his master cut him short with a look； then lifted his hat to me
and said：
〃Sir； the practice much surpasses the precept； which is unusual。 I
congratulate you upon a skill that almost partakes of the marvellous；
unless； indeed； chance〃 And he stopped。
〃It is natural that you should think so；〃 I replied； 〃but if more
pigeons come； and Mr。 Charles will make sure that he loads the rifle；
I hope to undeceive you。〃
At this moment； however； a loud shout from Scroope； who was looking
for me； reinforced by a shrill cry uttered by Miss Manners； banished
every pigeon within half a mile； a fact of which I was not sorry；
since who knows whether I should have it all； or any； of the next
three birds？
〃I think my friends are calling me； so I will bid you good morning；〃 I
said awkwardly。
〃One moment； sir；〃 he exclaimed。 〃Might I first ask you your name？
Mine is RagnallLord Ragnall。〃
〃And mine is Allan Quatermain；〃 I said。
〃Oh！〃 he answered； 〃that explains matters。 Charles； this is Mr。
Scroope's friend； the gentleman that you saidexaggerated。 I think
you had better apologize。〃
But Charles was gone； to pick up the pigeons； I suppose。
At this moment Scroope and the young lady appeared； having heard our
voices； and a general explanation ensued。
〃Mr。 Quatermain has been giving me a lesson in shooting pigeons on the
wing with a small…bore rifle；〃 said Lord Ragnall； pointing to the dead
birds that still lay upon the ground。
〃He is competent to do that；〃 said Scroope。
〃Painfully competent；〃 replied his lordship。 〃If you don't believe me；
ask the under…keeper。〃
〃It is the only thing I can do；〃 I explained modestly。 〃Rifle…shooting
is my trade； and I have made a habit of practising at birds on the
wing with ball。 I have no doubt that with a shot…gun your lordship
would leave me nowhere； for that is a game at which I have had little
practice； except when shooting for the pot in Africa。〃
〃Yes；〃 interrupted Scroope； 〃you wouldn't have any chance at that；
Allan； against one of the finest shots in England。〃
〃I'm not so sure；〃 said Lord Ragnall； laughing pleasantly。 〃I have an
idea that Mr。 Quatermain is full of surprises。 However； with his
leave； we'll see。 If you have a day to spare； Mr。 Quatermain； we are
going to shoot through the home coverts to…morrow； which haven't been
touched till now； and I hope you will join us。〃
〃It is most kind of you； but that is impossible；〃 I answered with
firmness。 〃I have no gun here。〃
〃Oh； never mind that； Mr。 Quatermain。 I have a pair of breech…loaders〃
these were new things at that date〃which have been sent down to me
to try。 I am going to return them； because they are much too short in
the stock for me。 I think they would just suit you； and you are quite
welcome to the use of them。〃
Again I excused myself； guessing that the discomfited Charles would
put all sorts of stories about concerning me； and not wishing to look
foolish before a party of grand strangers； no doubt chosen for their
skill at this particular form of sport。
〃Well； Allan；〃 exclaimed Scroope； who always had a talent for saying
the wrong thing； 〃you are quite right not to go into a competition
with Lord Ragnall over high pheasants。〃
I flushed； for there was some truth in his blundering remark； whereon
Lord Ragnall said with ready tact：
〃I asked Mr。 Quatermain to shoot； not to a shooting match； Scroope；
and I hope he'll come。〃
This left me no option； and with a sinking heart I had to accept。
〃Sorry I can't ask you too； Scroope；〃 said his lordship； when details
had been arranged； 〃but we can only manage seven guns at this shoot。
But will you and Miss Manners come to dine and sleep to…morrow
evening？ I should like to introduce your future wife to my future
wife；〃 he added； colouring a little。
Miss Manners being devoured with curiosity as to the wonderful Miss
Holmes； of whom she had heard so much but never actually seen；
accepted at once； before her lover could get out a word； whereon
Scroope volunteered to bring me over in the morning and load for me。
Being possessed by a terror that I should be handed over to the care
of the unsympathetic Charles； I replied that I should be very
grateful； and so the thing was settled。
On our way home we passed through a country town； of which I forget
the name； and the sight of a gunsmith's shop there reminded me that I
had no cartridges。 So I stopped to order some； as； fortunately； Lord
Ragnall had mentioned that the guns he was going to lend me were
twelve…bores。 The tradesman asked me how many cartridges I wanted； and
when I replied 〃a hundred；〃 stared at me and said：
〃If； as I understood； sir； you are going to the big winter shoot at
Ragnall to…morrow； you had better make it three hundred and fifty at
least。 I shall be there to watch； like lots of others； and I expect to
see nearly two hundred fired by each gun at the last Lake stand。〃
〃Very well；〃 I answered； fearing to show more ignorance by further
discussion。 〃I will call for the cartridges on my way to…morrow
morning。 Please load them with three drac