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"Good heavens! I have hit a beater!" exclaimed Sir Geoffrey.

"What an ass the man was to get in front of the guns! Stop

shooting there!" he called out at the top of his voice. "A man is

hurt."

The head-keeper came running up with a stick in his hand.

"Where, sir? Where is he?" he shouted. At the same time, the

firing ceased along the line.

"Here," answered Sir Geoffrey angrily, hurrying towards the

thicket. "Why on earth don't you keep your men back? Spoiled my

shooting for the day."