We shot without him. I do not think that he was missed. I had never seen Sir Haselton Jardine handling a gun, but I should not fancy that he was much of a performer. He did not strike one as being built that way.
I spoke to Innes as we were strolling to cover.
"Innes, I'm feeling in first-rate shooting trim to-day. I don't pretend, for a moment, to compare my shooting to yours, but would you like to have a sporting wager?"
"How?"
One peculiarity of Innes's is that he never uses two syllables where one will do.
"Bet you a pony that I kill more birds than you."
"Birds? or all in?"
"All in if you like."
"Done."
That decided it. I had not expected that he would bet. I had a sort of suspicion that he rather avoided making bets with me, but now that he had bet, if I did not win his pony and keep my promise, luck would have to be against me with a vengeance.