THE RUFFED GROUSE 29 



this knoll — ^Wliir-r-r! Quick, now! Too late! 

 He dives down a ravine at the right and when 

 he comes again into view he is too far away for 

 shot to harm him. Where was the dog? I 

 don't hear his bell. Ah! There he is — creep- 

 ing cautiously up to a clump of blackberry 

 bushes. Carefully, now, for every quick-witted, 

 sharp-sighted grouse in the clearing is on the 

 alert since that first bird tore down the gully at 

 full speed. See that puppy! Isn't that a pic- 

 ture for you? He performs like a veteran! 

 He stiffens, and trembling with suppressed 

 joy and eagerness, turns a cautious glance be- 

 hind to see if you know the critical state of 

 things, as slowly turns back again and stands a 

 marble statue against the background of green 

 waving brakes and moss-grown stumps. A sec- 

 ond later you hear the resentful scolding — 

 "Quit-quit! Quit-quit!" — a rapid patter of 

 nimble feet on the dry leaves — Whir-r-r-r! 

 Away he goes — a mere brown streak at light- 

 ning speed! 



Perchance you have stopped their headlong 

 rush many times before; in that case you may 

 stop this one — if you have luck. It may be 

 that this is your first experience, when it is 



