Everything connected with "the shooting" is admirably touched: The old,
experienced "shot," Wardle; the keepers and their boys; the dogs; the
sham amateurs; the carrying of the guns "reversed arms, like privates at
a funeral." Mr. Winkle "flashed and blazed and smoked away without
producing any material results; at one time expending his charge in mid-
air, and at others sending it skimming along so near the surface of the
ground as to place the lives of the two dogs on a rather uncertain and
precarious tenure. 'What's the matter with the dogs' legs? How _queer_
they're standing!' whispered Mr. Winkle. 'Hush, can't you! Don't you
see they are making a point?' said Wardle. 'Making a point?' said Mr.
Winkle, glaring about him, as if he expected to discern some particular
beauty in the landscape which the sagacious animals were calling special
attention to. 'What are they pointing at?' 'Keep your eyes open,' said
Wardle, not heeding the question in the excitement of the moment. 'Now
then.'" How natural and humorous is all this.
This was partridge shooting, "old style"--delightful and inspiriting, as
all have felt who have shared in it. Now we have "drives" on a vast
scale; then you would follow the birds from field to field "marking them
down." I myself with an urchin, a dog, and a single-barrelled old gun
have thus followed a few precious birds from field to field all the day
and secured them at the last. That was true enjoyment.
III.--Horses and Driving in "Pickwick."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account