234 The Ptarmigan Family 



size of them their makers should have been of 

 considerable weight, yet they barely dented the 

 snow. Their arrangement was grouse-like, and 

 in a moment I had it. Nothing but the wonder- 

 ful snow-shoe foot of the ptarmigan could leave 

 a trail like that. 



" Snow-grouse — white — eh } " I asked. 



He nodded. 



" Fresh — where 'bouts ? " I continued. 



" Look — look lot," he replied. 



A twinkle in his eye warned me that I had 

 better be mighty careful, and I felt certain he 

 had already seen the birds. But where ? Stand- 

 ing perfectly still, I first scanned the snowy trees. 

 Nothing there. Then, remembering the ways of 

 the quail and how many times I had detected 

 birds upon the ground ahead of the dogs, I be- 

 gan a close scrutiny of the snow a few yards 

 ahead. Presently a shiny ebon point caught my 

 eye, then a dull point equally black, then — as if 

 my eyes had suddenly become properly focussed 

 — I made out the soft, white, pigeonlike form of 

 a ptarmigan crouched upon the snow. Then an- 

 other and another showed, until I could plainly 

 see seven birds in all. They were about eight to 

 ten yards distant, and as motionless as so many 

 snowballs, which they greatly resembled. 



My right hand rose slowly to my frosted chops, 

 teeth seized the point of the heavy mitten, and 



