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Ragnall； while Charles thrust a loaded gun into my hand。
Another moment and they appeared over the tree…tops； a big covey of
them in a long； straggling line； travelling at I know not what speed；
for a fierce gust from the rising gale had caught them。 I fired at the
first bird； which fell at my feet。 I fired again； and another fell
behind me。 I snatched up the second gun and killed a third as it
passed over me high up。 Then； wheeling round； I covered the last
retreating bird； and lo！ it too fell； a very long shot indeed。
〃By George！〃 said Scroope； 〃I never saw that done before；〃 while
Ragnall stared and Charles whistled。
But now I will tell the truth and expose all my weakness。 The second
bird was not the one I aimed at。 I was behind it and caught that which
followed。 And in my vanity I did not own up； at least not till that
evening。
The four dead partridgesthere was not a runner among themhaving
been collected amidst many congratulations； we went on and were punted
across the lake to the covert。 As we entered the boat I observed that；
in addition to the great bags； Charles was carrying a box of
cartridges under his arm； and asked him where he got it from。
He replied； from Mr。 Pophamthat was the gunsmith's namewho had
brought it with him in case I should not have enough。 I made no
remark； but as I knew I had quite half of my cartridges left out of
the three hundred and fifty that I had bought； I wondered to myself
what kind of a shoot this was going to be。
Well； we took up our stands； and while we were doing so； suddenly the
wind increased to a tearing gale； which seemed to me to blow from all
points of the compass in turn。 Rooks flying homewards； and pigeons
disturbed by the beaters were swept over us like drifting leaves； wild
duck； of which I got one； went by like arrows； the great bare oaks
tossed their boughs and groaned； while not far off a fir tree was
blown down； falling with a splash into the water。
〃It's a wild afternoon；〃 said Lord Ragnall； and as he spoke Van Koop
came from his stand； looking rather scared； and suggested that the
shoot should be given up。
Lord Ragnall asked me what I wished to do。 I replied that I would
rather go on； but that I was in his hands。
〃I think we are fairly safe in these open places； Sir Junius；〃 he
said； 〃and as the pheasants have been so much disturbed already； it
does not much matter if they are blown about a bit。 But if you are of
another opinion； perhaps you had better get out of it and stand with
the others over the lake。 I'll send for my guns and take your place。〃
On hearing this Van Koop changed his mind and said that he would go
on。
So the beat began。 At first the wind blew from behind us； and
pheasants in increasing numbers passed over our heads； most of them
rather low； to the guns on the farther side of the water； who； skilled
though they were； did not make very good work with them。 We had been
instructed not to fire at birds going forward； so I let these be。 Van
Koop； however； did not interpret the order in the same spirit； for he
loosed at several； killing one or two and missing others。
〃That fellow is no sportsman；〃 I heard Lord Ragnall remark。 〃I suppose
it is the bet。〃
Then he sent Charles to ask him to desist。
Shortly after this the gale worked round to the north and settled
there； blowing with ever…increasing violence。 The pheasants； however；
still flew forward in the shelter of the trees； for they were making
for the covert on the hill； where they had been bred。 But when they
got into the open and felt the full force of the wind； quite four out
of six of them turned and came back at a most fearful pace； many so
high as to be almost out of shot。
For the next three…quarters of an hour or moreas I think I have
explained； the beat was a very long oneI had such covert shooting as
I suppose I shall never see again。 High above those shrieking trees；
or over the lake to my left； flashed the wind…driven pheasants in an
endless procession。 Oddly enough； I found that this wild work suited
me； for as time went on and the pheasants grew more and more
impossible； I shot better and better。 One after another down they came
far behind me with a crash in the brushwood or a splash in the lake；
till the guns grew almost too hot to hold。 There were so many of them
that I discovered I could pick my shots； also that nine out of ten
were caught by the wind and curved at a certain angle； and that the
time to fire was just before they took the curve。 The excitement was
great and the sport splendid； as anyone will testify who has shot
December pheasants breaking back over the covert and in a tearing
gale。 Van Koop also was doing very well； but the guns in front got
comparatively little shooting。 They were forced to stand there； poor
fellows； and watch our performance from afar。
As the thing drew towards an end the birds came thicker and thicker；
and I shot； as I have said； better and better。 This may be judged from
the fact that； notwithstanding their height and tremendous pace； I
killed my last thirty pheasants with thirty…five cartridges。 The final
bird of all； a splendid cock； appeared by himself out of nothingness
when we thought that all was done。 I think it must have been flushed
from the covert on the hill； or been turned back just as it reached it
by the resistless strength of the storm。 Over it came； so high above
us that it looked quite small in the dark snow…scud。
〃Too farno use！〃 said Lord Ragnall； as I lifted the gun。
Still； I fired； holding I know not how much in front； and lo！ that
pheasant died in mid air； falling with a mighty splash near the bank
of the lake； but at a great distance behind us。 The shot was so
remarkable that everyone who saw it； including most of the beaters；
who had passed us by now； uttered a cheer； and the red…waistcoated old
Jenkins； who had stopped by us； remarked： 〃Well； bust me if that
bain't a master one！〃
Scroope made me angry by slapping me so hard upon the back that it
hurt； and nearly caused me to let off the other barrel of the gun。
Charles seemed to become one great grin； and Lord Ragnall； with a
brief congratulatory 〃Never enjoyed a shoot so much in my life；〃
called to the men who were posted behind us to pick up all the dead
pheasants； being careful to keep mine apart from those of Sir Junius
Fortescue。
〃You should have a hundred and forty…three at this stand；〃 he said；
〃allowing for every possible runner。 Charles and I make the same
total。〃
I remarked that I did not think there were many runners； as the No。 3
shot had served me very well； and getting into the boat was rowed to
the other side； where I received more congratulations。 Then； as all
further shooting was out of the question because of the weather； we
walked back to the castle to tea。
As I emptied my cup Lord Ragnall； who had left the room； returned and
asked us to come and see