THE DROWNED LANDS. 233 



it said, as lie lifted it up by its wings, " Knocked into a 

 grease-spot !" 



There was a universal laugh at the quaint figure of the 

 hunter, in his buckskm suit, and the air of derison with 

 which he picked up his fragment of a bird, and held it 

 at arm's length. 



"Wall, ef anybody had told me that I would have 

 ever gone a-birdin' with this ere old rifle, I would hev 

 told that body he was a fool !" 



Wag seemed to have got somewhat in the mood of 

 hunting around, inspired by our shouts and firing, and 

 ran about hither and yon, springing the birds up before 

 us like a cocking sj)aniel. 



" There !" Lou called out to the Doctor, as the dog got 

 up another bird, " I told you that dog had a great deal 

 of intelligence ; this is the very first time, would you be- 

 lieve it, he has ever been hunted over snipe." 



"I can certamly credit it," answered Jackson, drily, 

 as he capped his gun. 



Away went another snipe, right before the Doctor, 

 who banged away with both barrels, and brought down 

 the bird. 



" There, I killed him ! Fetch him here, Wag ! Fetch, 

 good dog." 



Wag ran for the bird, but, instead of bringing him in, 

 picked him up and ran away with might and main, pur- 

 sued by the Doctor, shouting at the top of his voice, amid 

 peals of laughter. The race Avas a short one, for the 

 Doctor's figure was not adapted to running, and the 



