118 OUT WITH THE BIRDS 



heart of every little creature in the place. He 

 saw or smelled us at thirty feet, and his tail gave 

 a twitch of fear as he rose and glared at us while 

 his fierce little muzzle worked wickedly. Then 

 the rifle snapped and he went down with a hor- 

 rid little shriek. Up again he got to fight madly 

 for a last moment, but the leaden pill had torn 

 through his chest and his throat-cutting career 

 was ended. 



And now that we had revealed ourselves and 

 cleared the shore-line, we rose and slipped off 

 homeward through the oaks. 



