Page:King Edward VII. as a sportsman by Watson, Alfred Edward Thomas.djvu/42

 of the more venerable members of the fraternity; those who came as spectators, unfortunately for the bag, wandered about at their own sweet will. The Abbot himself, in a very short shooting-coat over his white cassock, a most rakish wide-awake hat on his head, and an enormous cigar in his mouth, took up a commanding position in the King's butt, various horns sounded, and the fun began. Partridges there were in plenty; but unfortunately the monks had felt inspired to fly two gigantic kites with the laudable desire of concentrating the birds and driving them over the King's butt. The desired result of concentration was undoubtedly obtained, but the general effect of the kites was to cause the birds to run down the furrows instead of flying over the guns, and this, combined with the intense caution and self-restraint that had to be exercised by the shooters, in order to avoid hitting either a flanker or one of the numerous spectators before alluded to, resulted in a quite remarkably small bag. However, it was all excellent fun, and no one was more amused at the incongruity of the whole chasse than the King himself.

Shortly afterwards King Edward had a very different experience in the same neighbourhood when partridge-driving with Count Trautmansdorff In a short day's shooting the party bagged 500 brace of partridge, the King himself accounting for 100 brace to his own gun. Though it hardly comes under the province of sport, perhaps I may be permitted to mention that the