Giving the Game Away.

Otago Witness, Issue 2528, 27 August 1902, Page 73

Giving the Game Away.

A sad story is told of a sportsman who rented a big shoot near London on which the head of game did not coincide with the advertisement. It felt that something desperate must be 'done, for royalty itself — though of a minor sort — was going to attend.

A wire was despatched to London, and on the morning of the shoot a large number of baskets, containing aggrieved and Bomewhat compressed pheasants, arrived at the mansion These were subtly conveyed to a small cover on a rising ground, it being intended that just before luncheon the noble sportsmen should be dazzled by the cloud of birds let loose upon them.

The day wore on with indifferent sport; but at length, placing hi 3 guns round the little cover, the host smilingly promised them something above the common. The beaters entered, led by the head keeper, who wore a knowing look. Only four pheasants were flushed. There followed a dreadful pause, during which the host wiped the perspiration from his brow. Then suddenly the head keeper broke from the undergrowth with an expression of despair stamped on his bibulous features.

" Oh, sir, sir," he cried to his furious master, "them baskets is all wired down, and we've forgotten the nippers!"