68 GAME BIRDS AND SHOOTING-SKETCHES 



delicate little ears and shaking liis head as he runs barking 

 round your place of concealment. For a moment he stands 

 perfectly still, and as you look through the opening in the 

 junipers you see him perfectly rigid, except for a slight 

 twitchino^ of his nose and ears. But that last moment has 



HYBlilD BLACKGAME AND GROUSE. 



been enouoh to satisfv him that what was an instant 

 before imagination is now a painful certainty. So he 

 makes a bound or two to one side, to see what effect it 

 will have towards making you disclose yourself altogether 

 and satisfy his curiosity. You still refuse to materialise, 

 so he gives you a final coquettish shake of his pretty head 



