204 PEAIEIE AND FOKEST. 



half grown ; so we let the young ones go without molest- 

 ation, and continued our range. Our previous forbearance 

 was soon rewarded, for a hundred yards farther our setters 

 again drew on game, Beau now having the lead. Up we 

 went, and although alongside the dogs, nothing showed. 

 By coaxing they advanced farther, and lay down. There 

 was no mistake now ; this indication I seldom knew to fail. 

 Short was the period of suspense, for up the grouse com- 

 menced rising, not altogether, but by twos and threes. 

 Each gun killed two birds at the first fire, and not being 

 delayed in loading, our dogs were soon ordered to retrieve. 

 Belle had not gone five paces to perform this duty when 

 she again stood, and bang, bang, from all our guns fol- 

 lowed ; in five minutes we had fifteen birds on the ground, 

 and more flushing every moment. What luck we were in ! 

 We had evidently got out of bed on the right side that 

 morning, and were in for a big day's work. While re- 

 trieving the birds two more fell to our aim, making seven- 

 teen out of the covey, a pretty good account : and, better 

 still, those that had not been shot at did not continue their 

 flight more than two hundred yards, when they lit on the 

 brow of a sunny bank. Having bagged our game, and 

 handed them to Hank (for that was our charioteer's name), 

 we hunted up the survivors, and soon were at work again ; 

 the dogs struck them off at once, and, save that two escaped, 

 who were out of bounds, and took a lengthened journey out 

 prairie-wards, we bagged all. 



Our charioteer now returned, and gave us the satisfactory 

 information that there were plenty more, but at the same 

 time adding, " Look you here, jist leave some to breed." 



