Harness the nags and pack the wagon, and
put them to, at five--we shall be at home by then, for we intend to be
at Tom's to-night. Now look out, Frank, those three last quail we marked
in from the hill dropped in the next field, where the ragwort stands so
thick; and five to one, as there is a thin growth of brushwood all down
this wall side, they will have run down hither. Why, man alive! you've
got no copper caps on!"
"By George! no more I have--I took them off when I laid down my gun in
the house, and forgot to replace them."
"And a very dangerous thing you did in taking them off, permit me to
assure you. Any one but a fool, or a very young child, knows at once
that a gun with caps on is loaded. You leave yours on the table without
caps, and in comes some meddling chap or other, puts on one to try the
locks, or to frighten his sweetheart, or for some other no less sapient
purpose, and off it goes! and if it kill no one, it's God's mercy! Never
do that again, Frank!"
Meanwhile they had arrived within ten yards of the low rickety stone
wall, skirted by a thin fringe of saplings, in which Archer expected to
find game--Grouse, never in what might be called exact command, had
disappeared beyond it.
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