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morning。 Please load them with three drachms of powder。〃
〃Yes； sir； and an ounce and an eighth of No。 5 shot； sir？ That's what
all the gentlemen use。〃
〃No；〃 I answered； 〃No。 3； please be sure as to that。 Good evening。〃
The gunsmith stared at me； and as I left the shop I heard him remark
to his assistant：
〃That African gent must think he's going out to shoot ostriches with
buck shot。 I expect he ain't no good； whatever they may say about
him。〃
CHAPTER II
ALLAN MAKES A BET
On the following morning Scroope and I arrived at Castle Ragnall at or
about a quarter to ten。 On our way we stopped to pick up my three
hundred and fifty cartridges。 I had to pay something over three solid
sovereigns for them； as in those days such things were dear； which
showed me that I was not going to get my lesson in English pheasant
shooting for nothing。 The gunsmith； however； to whom Scroope gave a
lift in his cart to the castle； impressed upon me that they were dirt
cheap； since he and his assistant had sat up most of the night loading
them with my special No。 3 shot。
As I climbed out of the vehicle a splendid…looking and portly person；
arrayed in a velvet coat and a scarlet waistcoat； approached with the
air of an emperor； followed by an individual in whom I recognized
Charles； carrying a gun under each arm。
〃That's the head…keeper；〃 whispered Scroope； 〃mind you treat him
respectfully。〃
Much alarmed； I took off my hat and waited。
〃Do I speak to Mr。 Allan Quatermain？〃 said his majesty in a deep and
rumbling voice； surveying me the while with a cold and disapproving
eye。
I intimated that he did。
〃Then； sir；〃 he went on； pausing a little at the 〃sir；〃 as though he
suspected me of being no more than an African colleague of his own； 〃I
have been ordered by his lordship to bring you these guns； and I hope；
sir； that you will be careful of them； as they are here on sale or
return。 Charles； explain the working of them there guns to this
foreign gentleman； and in doing so keep the muzzles up /or/ down。 They
ain't loaded； it's true； but the example is always useful。〃
〃Thank you； Mr。 Keeper；〃 I replied； growing somewhat nettled； 〃but I
think that I am already acquainted with most that there is to learn
about guns。〃
〃I am glad to hear it； sir；〃 said his majesty with evident disbelief。
〃Charles； I understand that Squire Scroope is going to load for the
gentleman； which I hope he knows how to do with safety。 His lordship's
orders are that you accompany them and carry the cartridges。 And；
Charles； you will please keep count of the number fired and what is
killed dead； not reckoning runners。 I'm sick of them stories of
runners。〃
These directions were given in a portentous stage aside which we were
not supposed to hear。 They caused Scroope to snigger and Charles to
grin； but in me they raised a feeling of indignation。
I took one of the guns and looked at it。 It was a costly and
beautifully made weapon of the period； with an under…lever action。
〃There's nothing wrong with the gun； sir；〃 rumbled Red Waistcoat。 〃If
you hold it straight it will do the rest。 But keep the muzzle up； sir；
keep it up； for I know what the bore is without studying the same with
my eye。 Also perhaps you won't take it amiss if I tell you that here
at Ragnall we hates a low pheasant。 I mention it because the last
gentleman who came from foreign partshe was French； he wasshot
nothing all day but one hen bird sitting just on the top of the brush；
two beaters； his lordship's hat； and a starling。〃
At this point Scroope broke into a roar of idiotic laughter。 Charles；
from whom Fortune decreed that I was not to escape； after all； turned
his back and doubled up as though seized with sudden pain in the
stomach； and I grew absolutely furious。
〃Confound it； Mr。 Keeper；〃 I explained； 〃what do you mean by lecturing
me？ Attend to your business； and I'll attend to mine。〃
At this moment who should appear from behind the angle of some
buildingwe were talking in the stableyard； near the gun…roombut
Lord Ragnall himself。 I could see that he had overheard the
conversation； for he looked angry。
〃Jenkins；〃 he said； addressing the keeper； 〃do what Mr。 Quatermain has
said and attend to your own business。 Perhaps you are not aware that
he has shot more lions； elephants； and other big game than you have
cats。 But； however that may be； it is not your place to try to
instruct him or any of my guests。 Now go and see to the beaters。〃
〃Beg pardon； my lord；〃 ejaculated Jenkins； his face； that was as
florid as his waistcoat； turning quite pale； 〃no offence meant； my
lord； but elephants and lions don't fly； my lord； and those accustomed
to such ground varmin are apt to shoot low； my lord。 Beaters all ready
at the Hunt Copse； my lord。〃
Thus speaking he backed himself out of sight。 Lord Ragnall watched him
go； then said with a laugh：
〃I apologize to you； Mr。 Quatermain。 That silly old fool was part of
my inheritance； so to speak； and the joke of it is that he is himself
the worst and most dangerous shot I ever saw。 However； on the other
hand； he is the best rearer of pheasants in the county； so I put up
with him。 Come in； now； won't you？ Charles will look after your guns
and cartridges。〃
So Scroope and I were taken through a side entrance into the big hall
and there introduced to the other members of the shooting party； most
of whom were staying at the castle。 They were famous shots。 Indeed； I
had read of the prowess of some of them in /The Field/； a paper that I
always took in Africa； although often enough； when I was on my distant
expeditions； I did not see a copy of it for a year at a time。
To my astonishment I found that I knew one of these gentlemen。 We had
not； it is true； met for a dozen years； but I seldom forget a face；
and I was sure that I could not be mistaken in this instance。 That
mean appearance； those small； shifty grey eyes； that red； pointed nose
could belong to nobody except Van Koop； so famous in his day in South
Africa in connexion with certain gigantic and most successful frauds
that the law seemed quite unable to touch； of which frauds I had been
one of the many victims to the extent of ￡250； a large sum for me。
The last time we met there had been a stormy scene between us； which
ended in my declaring in my wrath that if I came across him on the
veld I should shoot him at sight。 Perhaps that was one of the reasons
why Mr。 van Koop vanished from South Africa； for I may add that he was
a cur of the first water。 I believe that he had only just entered the
room； having driven over from wherever he lived at some distance from
Ragnall。 At any rate； he knew nothing of my presence at this shoot。
Had he known I am quite sure that he would have been absent。 He
turned； and seeing me； ejaculated： 〃Allan Quatermain； by heaven！〃
beneath his breath； but in such a tone of aston