They all did what doubtless they have done since the days of Adam or earlier--wheeled, and then hung that little space of time before they dropped to the ground like lead.

This, then, would be the moment at which to shoot them, when for four or five seconds they offered practically a sitting target.

Now, at that distance, always under a hundred yards, I knew well that I could hit a tea plate every shot, and a vulture is much larger than a tea plate.

So it seemed to me that, barring accidents, I had little to fear from the terrible trial of skill which lay before me.

Again and again I covered the hovering birds with my rifle, feeling that if I had pressed the trigger I should have pierced them through.
Thinking it well to practise, I continued this game for a long while, till at last it came to an unexpected end.