226 THE SWAN AND HER CREW. 



the while most vociferously. The hawk struck three of them 

 down in succession, but her assailants were too many for her, 

 and she turned tail and flew back to the yacht, where she 

 allowed Frank to capture her, while the starlings whirled away 

 and settled in the reeds once more. 



As they sailed back, Frank said, 



" Now that our hawks are trained so beautifully we shall 

 have good sport with them.'' 



But he was doomed to be disappointed. Two days after 

 they took them into the open country, and a rabbit darting 

 out of a tuft of grass, they flew one of the hawks at it. " It 

 struck the rabbit, and clung to it while it ran into its burrow, 

 and the noble bird was killed by the shock. The boys were 

 very much grieved at this, and resolved not to fly the other 

 hawk at four-footed game. While they were crossing Sir 

 Richard Carleton's land they flushed a solitary partridge, 

 which appeared to have been wounded, and flew slowly. 

 It had doubtless been left behind by its more active com- 

 panions. They let the hawk fly, and it followed the partridge 

 around the corner of a plantation. The report of a gun 

 followed, and, running up, they found their worst apprehensions 

 realized. The hawk had been shot dead by one of two 

 gentlemen, who, with a couple of dogs, were out shooting. 

 They were guests of Sir Richard's, and when they found the 

 hawk was a tame one they were very profuse in their apologies. 

 The boys did not care to make very civil replies, but walked 

 quietly and sadly away. 



Their cup of bitterness was for the time full. 



" So ends our hawking," said Frank as they separated. 



" Yes ; this is the unluckiest day we have had yet," 

 answered Jimmy. 



