He was just able to scramble back.

Picking his way with great caution, he commenced a leisurely perambulation of the whole of the outside of the wood.
Heggs, the junior keeper, an hour or so later, went over the gun rack once more, tapped the empty cases, and turned towards Middleton, who was sitting in a chair before the fire, smoking his pipe.
"I can't find master's number two gun, Mr.Middleton," he announced.
"That's missing." "Look again, lad," the old keeper directed, removing the pipe from his mouth.

"The master was shooting with it yesterday.

Look amongst those loose 'uns at the far end of the rack.

It must be somewhere there." "Well, that isn't," the young man replied obstinately.
The door of the room was suddenly opened, and Dominey entered with the missing gun under his arm.