WOODCOCK SHOOTING 307 
and will test your skill. Cross the meadows then and 
go down into the swamp, working along near the edge, 
where the underbrush is not too thick, and the soil 
under the leaves, as you can see in the cattle tracks, 
is rich and black. Just beyond you, on the left, a steep 
hillside rises sharply from the edge of the swamp, its 
surface overgrown with low cedars, sumacs and bay- 
berry bushes. The old dog comes out of the swamp 
and turns toward the slope, and as he crosses before 
you glances back inquiringly. He knows the hillside, 
and understands as well as you do that a cock is usu- 
ally to be found on that warm southern exposure at 
this time of the year. No need to wave the hand or 
use any elaborate signal to tell him to work up among 
the cedars and through the brush. A little sidewise 
movement of the head, and he is breasting the steep 
ascent and rustling among the twigs and the crisp 
leaves, while you walk along a cowpath at the foot of 
the slope. If there be a bird there it will be sure to 
fly toward the swamp, and must therefore cross in 
front of you. For a few moments you hear the dog 
as he works above you; then the sound ceases, and 
as you pause to listen for it there comes to the ear 
that shrill whistle, so like the midsummer twitter of 
the kingbird, that warns you to “mark cock.” You 
see a brown flash among the green cedars, and the 
bird darts out to plunge into the swamp; but as he 
sees you he turns sharply and flies down the path, 
straight away. You have plenty of time; bring up 
your gun deliberately, cover the bird, and when it is 
