The most common type of gunner is the man who kills frequently, but
is not a good shot because he does not know how to take his birds.
He would double his bag if he would put every shot a foot farther
forward--that golden foot forward--if he would not fire when in the
act of turning (which must depress the gun's muzzle), and if he would
remember that driven birds on seeing a man rise immediately and
instinctively, even at right angles to their line of flight. The keeper
detests the man who continually sends him to pick up game which has
never fallen. For these knowing gentlemen, he is a wise keeper who
carries a special bird or two in his pocket, against the time when they
say, in their haughty way, "Aw, my man, kindly pick up my bird that
fell tha-ar!"
The luckiest shot we ever met was a colonel who, one windy day,
happened to be stationed by himself on a road lined by telegraph-wires.
All the birds came his way, and with ten shots he killed one.
Startled by his volleys, a bunch of passing birds blundered into the
telegraph-wires which, more deadly than the gun, claimed nine victims.
The colonel was a study in modesty when he remarked a little later that
in ten shots he had been lucky enough to bag five brace.
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