CCiy Fathei^'s Adventures. 43 



for from the lusty lungs of the fifteen went forth 

 such a shout of " Maark " as could be heard a mile 

 off. Even from the shy man there went forth a 

 faint cry, he quickly turned away, however, as if 

 ashamed at this display of boldness. 



But could this be the covey. The markers, open- 

 mouthed and shading their eyes with their hands, 

 could make out only eleven birds in the air. They 

 turned to see how many had been killed; and when 

 they had collected eight full-grown birds from the 

 arish, great was their delight. And one old fellow 

 flapping the skirts of his coat, as a crowing cock 

 flaps its wings, laughed merrily, and in a shrill voice 

 sang out " Vine work, vine work." Good practice 

 continued, and the bag filled rapidly. Sometimes a 

 covey would be marked into rushes, or short furze, 

 or scattered along a hedge-grip from which they 

 would rise singly, or in twos and threes, when they 

 seldom got further than the top of the hedge-bushes, 

 or exceeded in their flight twenty or thirty yards : at 

 that distance they generally came to a full stop. 

 When the shooting party had advanced some dis- 

 tance, a cry or holloa of '' Way, way, yep," assembled 

 the markers from their stations to take up fresh 

 posts of vantage. There did not appear to have 

 been any casualties among them, though they had 

 exposed themselves so freely to the chance of receiv- 

 ing what was intended for a " patherage." Indeed, 



