20 GAME-BIRDS AT HOME. 



And at last Don almost stops, and with nose 

 upraised and slowly oscillating tail sniffs tenderly 

 in the direction of a fallen tree-top a few yards 

 off, then, moving two or three half-steps with 

 extreme caution, settles into a statue, with eyes 

 intently fixed on the ground at the bottom of 

 the tree-top. 



B — bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbh roars suddenly from the 

 tangle of briers around the tree-top, and a ruffed 

 grouse, scattering the dry leaves at the first burst 

 of obstreperous wing, roars like a rocket upward. 

 But, as his fanlike tail with its brown and gray 

 and bars of jet fades amid the crowding twigs 

 and leaves that still cling to the white-oak, Bang 

 goes the gun aimed quickly a yard or more 

 ahead of the last glimpse of brown, and down 

 through crashing leaves and crackling twigs 

 whirls something with a thump to earth. 



Wonderfully well done, wasn't it? But was 

 it not also a very long trail for a ruffed grouse? 

 Ah ! Wait : Don's actions tell the story, for 

 he resumes the grave tread of a moment ago, 

 and on he goes right past the fallen grouse, 

 noticing it only with a sniff, while Frank stops 

 a moment and, looking alternately from you to 



