A Hunter and Spaniel were out. The Spaniel sprang both a Snipe and a covey of Partridges. The Hunter fired but missed both in his haste. Too bad!
You should never have two aims at once.
JBR Collection
As a Sportsman ranged the fields with his gun, attended by an experienced old Spaniel, he happened to spring a Snipe, and, almost at the same instant, a covey of Partridges. Surprised at the accident, and divided in his aim, he fired too indiscriminately, and by this means missed them both. “Oh, my good master,” said the Spaniel, “you should never have two aims at once. Had you not been dazzled and seduced by the extravagant hope of bringing down a Partridge, you would probably have secured your snipe.”