Mark Cock! 37 



it was while having to look to one's footing in this way that one had to keep 

 a look out for the quickest and cleverest bird that flies — and anyone 

 who says a woodcock is an ass doesn't know him. Unless it is an old jay, 

 there are few birds who will put a tree, bush, or stone between himself and 

 a gunner better than a woodcock. We arranged our beat two on each side 

 of the ravine, one near the top and one half way down, with a beater 

 between, and one along the little stream in the bottom. The Counsellor and 

 I took one side, the Captain and the O'C. the other. I was the upper man, 

 and as mine was the nastiest walking, though it gave the best chance of 

 cocks, Mike kept within hail, and gave me notice when anytliing unexpected 

 was before me. 



As the Captain and The O'C. were going down to climb the other side, 

 there was a solitary "bang" in the very bottom, and something brown 

 wliich had just shot out over the tops of the short trees went back again, and 

 the captain scored first blood, and pocketed our three sovs on the first 

 bird. Then, all being en regie, the spaniels were set going at a whistle, 

 and the line advanced. Stumble over a big stone I went, as I was walking 

 without regarding my footing — squash over one knee in a bit of bog. 



"Mark, y'r honour," called Mike, and I did mark; but with one foot 

 two feet under the other it is not easy to do anything else. 



"D n the bog." 



" Niver mind it, y'r honour; he'll drop on ahead, and we'll find him 

 again." 



"Mark, bang ! " from the other side of the ravine, and "bang," "bang," 

 from the Counsellor, his second scoring as the bird flew across. Then 

 "mark" again to me, and this time I did manage to let go, but into a 

 rock round which the cock dodged; but the next second another rose out of 

 some fern fair before me, and, there being nothing in the way, I floored him. 

 " HuiToo, that's wan to us !" cried Mike, "bring him here, my beauty," as 

 one of the spaniels retrieved the bird in a twinkling. I never saw a better 

 trained team than Mike's beauties. They never went thirty yards away, but 

 they did not leave an inch of the ground unbeaten. 



The sport now began to get lively. Hardly a minute passed but one or 

 more barrels pealed out and went thundering down the ravine. Often two 



