The latter was advancing in stages of about ten paces, and at
every stage he stopped to utter a most fearful roar by way of warning
all and sundry that they were not to shoot in his direction. Edward
gave his gun to his bearer and at once walked off to join them, but
the Colonel went with George to look after two running cocks which he
had down, for he was an old-fashioned sportsman, and hated not picking
up his game. After some difficulty they found one of the cocks in the
hedgerow, but the other they could not find, so reluctantly they gave
up the search. When they got to the lane they found the luncheon
ready, while one of the beaters was laying out the game for the Squire
to inspect. There were fourteen pheasants, four brace and a half of
partridges, a hare, three rabbits, and a woodcock.
"Hullo," said the Squire, "who shot the woodcock?"
"Well, sir," said George, "we all had a pull at him, but the Colonel
wiped our eyes."
"Oh, Mr. Cossey," said Ida, in affected surprise, "why, I thought you
never missed /anything/."
"Everybody misses sometimes," answered that gentleman, looking
uncommonly sulky. "I shall do better this afternoon when it comes to
the driven partridges."
"I don't believe you will," went on Ida, laughing maliciously.
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