the ivory child-第2章

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staying　with　him　who；　he　swears；　could　knock　over　four　out　of　six。〃



〃Then；　my　lord；　Mr。　Scroope　has　a　friend　what　lies；〃　replied　Charles

as　he　handed　him　the　second　rifle。



This　was　too　much　for　me。　I　stepped　forward；　raising　my　hat　politely；

and　said：



〃Sir；　forgive　me　for　interrupting　you；　but　you　are　not　shooting　at

those　wood…pigeons　in　the　right　way。　Although　they　seem　to　hover　just

before　they　settle；　they　are　dropping　much　faster　than　you　think。　Your

keeper　was　mistaken　when　he　said　that　you　knocked　a　feather　out　of　the

tail　of　that　last　bird　at　which　you　fired　two　barrels。　In　both　cases

you　shot　at　least　a　foot　above　it；　and　what　fell　was　a　leaf　from　the

ilex　tree。〃



There　was　a　moment's　silence；　which　was　broken　by　Charles；　who

ejaculated　in　a　thick　voice：



〃Well；　of　all　the　cheek！〃



Lord　Ragnall；　however；　for　it　was　he；　looked　first　angry　and　then

amused。



〃Sir；〃　he　said；　〃I　thank　you　for　your　advice；　which　no　doubt　is

excellent；　for　it　is　certainly　true　that　I　have　missed　every　pigeon

which　I　tried　to　shoot　with　these　confounded　little　rifles。　But　if　you

could　demonstrate　in　practice　what　you　so　kindly　set　out　in　precept；

the　value　of　your　counsel　would　be　enhanced。〃



Thus　he　spoke；　mimicking；　I　have　no　doubt　（for　he　had　a　sense　of

humour）；　the　manner　of　my　address；　which　nervousness　had　made　somewhat

pompous。



〃Give　me　the　rifle；〃　I　answered；　taking　off　my　greatcoat。



He　handed　it　me　with　a　bow。



〃Mind　what　you　are　about；〃　growled　Charles。　〃That　there　thing　is　full

cocked　and　'air…triggered。〃



I　withered；　or；　rather；　tried　to　wither　him　with　a　glance；　but　this

unbelieving　keeper　only　stared　back　at　me　with　insolence　in　his　round

and　bird…like　eyes。　Never　before　had　I　felt　quite　so　angry　with　a

menial。　Then　a　horrible　doubt　struck　me。　Supposing　I　should　miss！　I

knew　very　little　of　the　manner　of　flight　of　English　wood…pigeons；

which　are　not　difficult　to　miss　with　a　bullet；　and　nothing　at　all　of

these　particular　rifles；　though　a　glance　at　them　showed　me　that　they

were　exquisite　weapons　of　their　sort　and　by　a　great　maker。　If　I　muffed

the　thing　now；　how　should　I　bear　the　scorn　of　Charles　and　the　polite

amusement　of　his　noble　master？　Almost　I　prayed　that　no　more　pigeons

would　put　in　an　appearance；　and　thus　that　the　issue　of　my　supposed

skill　might　be　left　in　doubt。



But　this　was　not　to　be。　These　birds　came　from　far　in　ones　or　twos　to

search　for　their　favourite　food；　and　the　fact　that　others　had　been

scared　away　did　not　cause　them　to　cease　from　coming。　Presently　I　heard

Charles　mutter：



〃Now；　then；　look　out；　guv'nor。　Here's　your　chance　of　teaching　his

lordship　how　to　do　it；　though　he　does　happen　to　be　the　best　shot　in

these　counties。〃



While　he　spoke　two　pigeons　appeared；　one　a　little　behind　the　other；

coming　down　very　straight。　As　they　reached　the　opening　in　the　ilex

grove　they　hovered；　preparing　to　alight；　for　of　us　they　could　see

nothing；　one　at　a　distance　of　about　fifty　and　the　other　of；　say；

seventy　yards　away。　I　took　the　nearest；　got　on　to　it；　allowing　for　the

drop　and　the　angle；　and　touched　the　trigger　of　the　rifle；　which　fell

to　my　shoulder　very　sweetly。　The　bullet　struck　that　pigeon　on　the

crop；　out　of　which　fell　a　shower　of　acorns　that　it　had　been　eating；　as

it　sank　to　the　ground　stone　dead。　Number　two　pigeon；　realizing　danger；

began　to　mount　upwards　almost　straight。　I　fired　the　second　barrel；　and

by　good　luck　shot　its　head　off。　Then　I　snatched　the　other　rifle；　which

Charles　had　been　loading　automatically；　from　his　outstretched　hand；

for　at　that　moment　I　saw　two　more　pigeons　coming。　At　the　first　I

risked　a　difficult　shot　and　hit　it　far　back；　knocking　out　its　tail；

but　bringing　it；　still　fluttering；　to　the　ground。　The　other；　too；　I

covered；　but　when　I　touched　the　trigger　there　was　a　click；　no　more。



This　was　my　opportunity　of　coming　even　with　Charles；　and　I　availed

myself　of　it。



〃Young　man；〃　I　said；　while　he　gaped　at　me　open…mouthed；　〃you　should

learn　to　be　careful　with　rifles；　which　are　dangerous　weapons。　If　you

give　one　to　a　shooter　that　is　not　loaded；　it　shows　that　you　are

capable　of　anything。〃



Then　I　turned；　and　addressing　Lord　Ragnall；　added：



〃I　must　apologize　for　that　third　shot　of　mine；　which　was　infamous；　for

I　committed　a　similar　fault　to　that　against　which　I　warned　you；　sir；

and　did　not　fire　far　enough　ahead。　However；　it　may　serve　to　show　your

attendant　the　difference　between　the　tail　of　a　pigeon　and　an　oak

leaf；〃　and　I　pointed　to　one　of　the　feathers　of　the　poor　bird；　which

was　still　drifting　to　the　ground。



〃Well；　if　this　here　snipe　of　a　chap　ain't　the　devil　in　boots！〃

exclaimed　Charles　to　himself。



But　his　master　cut　him　short　with　a　look；　then　lifted　his　hat　to　me

and　said：



〃Sir；　the　practice　much　surpasses　the　precept；　which　is　unusual。　I

congratulate　you　upon　a　skill　that　almost　partakes　of　the　marvellous；

unless；　indeed；　chance〃　And　he　stopped。



〃It　is　natural　that　you　should　think　so；〃　I　replied；　〃but　if　more

pigeons　come；　and　Mr。　Charles　will　make　sure　that　he　loads　the　rifle；

I　hope　to　undeceive　you。〃



At　this　moment；　however；　a　loud　shout　from　Scroope；　who　was　looking

for　me；　reinforced　by　a　shrill　cry　uttered　by　Miss　Manners；　banished

every　pigeon　within　half　a　mile；　a　fact　of　which　I　was　not　sorry；

since　who　knows　whether　I　should　have　it　all；　or　any；　of　the　next

three　birds？



〃I　think　my　friends　are　calling　me；　so　I　will　bid　you　good　morning；〃　I

said　awkwardly。



〃One　moment；　sir；〃　he　exclaimed。　〃Might　I　first　ask　you　your　name？

Mine　is　RagnallLord　Ragnall。〃



〃And　mine　is　Allan　Quatermain；〃　I　said。



〃Oh！〃　he　answered；　〃that　explains　matters。　Charles；　this　is　Mr。

Scroope's　friend；　the　gentleman　that　you　saidexaggerated。　I　think

you　had　better　apologize。〃



But　Charles　was　gone；　to　pick　up　the　pigeons；　I　suppose。



At　this　moment　Scroope　and　the　young　lady　appeared；　having　heard　our

voices；　and　a　general　explanation　ensued。



〃Mr。　Quatermain　has　been　giving　me　a　lesson　in　shooting　pigeons　on　the

wing　with　a　small…bore　rifle；〃　said　Lord　Ragnall；　pointing　to　the　dead

birds　that　still　lay　upon　the　ground。



〃He　is　competent　to　do　that；〃　said　Scroope。



〃Painfully　competent；〃　replied　his　lordship。　〃If　you　don't　believe　me；

ask　the　under…keeper。〃



〃It　is　the　only　thing　I　can　do；〃　I　explained　modestly。　〃Rifle…shooting

is　my　trade；　and　I　have　made　a　habit　of　practising　at　birds　on　the

wing　with　ball。　I　have　no　doubt　that　with　a　shot…gun　your　lordship

would　leave　me　nowhere；　for　that　is　a　game　at　which　I　have　had　little

practice；　except　when　shooting　for　the　pot　in　Africa。〃



〃Yes；〃　interrupted　Scroope；　〃you　wouldn't　have　any　chance　at　that；

Allan；　against　one　of　the　finest　shots　in　England。〃



〃I'm　not　so　sure；〃　said　Lord　Ragnall；　laughing　pleasantly。　〃I　have　an

idea　that　Mr。　Quatermain　is　full　of　surprises。　However；　with　his

leave；　we'll　see。　If　you　have　a　day　to　spare；　Mr。　Quatermain；　we　are

going　to　shoot　through　the　home　coverts　to…morrow；　which　haven't　been

touched　till　now；　and　I　hope　you　will　join　us。〃



〃It　is　most　kind　of　you；　but　that　is　impossible；〃　I　answered　with

firmness。　〃I　have　no　gun　here。〃



〃Oh；　never　mind　that；　Mr。　Quatermain。　I　have　a　pair　of　breech…loaders〃

these　were　new　things　at　that　date〃which　have　been　sent　down　to　me

to　try。　I　am　going　to　return　them；　because　they　are　much　too　short　in

the　stock　for　me。　I　think　they　would　just　suit　you；　and　you　are　quite

welcome　to　the　use　of　them。〃



Again　I　excused　myself；　guessing　that　the　discomfited　Charles　would

put　all　sorts　of　stories　about　concerning　me；　and　not　wishing　to　look

foolish　before　a　party　of　grand　strangers；　no　doubt　chosen　for　their

skill　at　this　particular　form　of　sport。



〃Well；　Allan；〃　exclaimed　Scroope；　who　always　had　a　talent　for　saying

the　wrong　thing；　〃you　are　quite　right　not　to　go　into　a　competition

with　Lord　Ragnall　over　high　pheasants。〃



I　flushed；　for　there　was　some　truth　in　his　blundering　remark；　whereon

Lord　Ragnall　said　with　ready　tact：



〃I　asked　Mr。　Quatermain　to　shoot；　not　to　a　shooting　match；　Scroope；

and　I　hope　he'll　come。〃



This　left　me　no　option；　and　with　a　sinking　heart　I　had　to　accept。



〃Sorry　I　can't　ask　you　too；　Scroope；〃　said　his　lordship；　when　details

had　been　arranged；　〃but　we　can　only　manage　seven　guns　at　this　shoot。

But　will　you　and　Miss　Manners　come　to　dine　and　sleep　to…morrow

evening？　I　should　like　to　introduce　your　future　wife　to　my　future

wife；〃　he　added；　colouring　a　little。



Miss　Manners　being　devoured　with　curiosity　as　to　the　wonderful　Miss

Holmes；　of　whom　she　had　heard　so　much　but　never　actually　seen；

accepted　at　once；　before　her　lover　could　get　out　a　word；　whereon

Scroope　volunteered　to　bring　me　over　in　the　morning　and　load　for　me。

Being　possessed　by　a　terror　that　I　should　be　handed　over　to　the　care

of　the　unsympathetic　Charles；　I　replied　that　I　should　be　very

grateful；　and　so　the　thing　was　settled。



On　our　way　home　we　passed　through　a　country　town；　of　which　I　forget

the　name；　and　the　sight　of　a　gunsmith's　shop　there　reminded　me　that　I

had　no　cartridges。　So　I　stopped　to　order　some；　as；　fortunately；　Lord

Ragnall　had　mentioned　that　the　guns　he　was　going　to　lend　me　were

twelve…bores。　The　tradesman　asked　me　how　many　cartridges　I　wanted；　and

when　I　replied　〃a　hundred；〃　stared　at　me　and　said：



〃If；　as　I　understood；　sir；　you　are　going　to　the　big　winter　shoot　at

Ragnall　to…morrow；　you　had　better　make　it　three　hundred　and　fifty　at

least。　I　shall　be　there　to　watch；　like　lots　of　others；　and　I　expect　to

see　nearly　two　hundred　fired　by　each　gun　at　the　last　Lake　stand。〃



〃Very　well；〃　I　answered；　fearing　to　show　more　ignorance　by　further

discussion。　〃I　will　call　for　the　cartridges　on　my　way　to…morrow

morning。　Please　load　them　with　three　drachms　of　powder。〃



〃Yes；　sir；　and　an　ounce　and　an　eighth　of　No。　5　shot；　sir？　That's　what

all　the　gentlemen　use。〃



〃No；〃　I　answered；　〃No。　3；　please　be　sure　as　to　that。　Good　evening。〃



The　gunsmith　stared　at　me；　and　as　I　left　the　shop　I　heard　him　remark

to　his　assistant：



〃That　African　gent　must　think　he's　going　out　to　shoot　ostriches　with

buck　shot。　I　expect　he　ain't　no　good；　whatever　they　may　say　about

him。〃







CHAPTER　II



ALLAN　MAKES　A　BET



On　the　following　morning　Scroope　and　I　arrived　at　Castle　Ragnall　at　or

about　a　quarter　to　ten。　On　our　way　we　stopped　to　pick　up　my　three

hundred　and　fifty　cartridges。　I　had　to　pay　something　over　three　solid

sovereigns　for　them；　as　in　those　days　such　things　were　dear；　which

showed　me　that　I　was　not　going　to　get　my　lesson　in　English　pheasant

shooting　for　nothing。　The　gunsmith；　however；　to　whom　Scroope　gave　a

lift　in　his　cart　to　the　castle；　impressed　upon　me　that　they　were　dirt

cheap；　since　he　and　his　assistant　had　sat　up　most　of　the　night　loading