132 O'er Crag and Torrent 



when a covey of nine rose out of shot, wild 

 as the proverbial hawk, and proving the 

 truth of the old adage "Wild day, wild 

 birds." However, these particular birds 

 were most accommodating, for they swung 

 round the brow of the hill on which the 

 turnip-field was situated, and dropped in the 

 lower end of the same field. Both dogs had 

 dropped to wing, so " hold up " was the order 

 of the day. Our second venture at this 

 covey met with more success. Don found 

 them beautifully, and was equally well 

 backed by the puppy. We each dropped a 

 brace, but unfortunately one of mine was a 

 runner, and luckily the only strong runner 

 we had all day. This contretemps caused 

 us some slight delay, as the wily little beggar 

 had gone to earth in a rabbit burrow, but 

 was duly brought to bag. Three more fields 

 were blank, with the exception of a land-rail, 

 which was considerate enough not to run 



