THE HERON AND ITS HAUNTS 91 



got it, and no mistake, for the bird, half raising him- 

 self on the ground with his sound wing and feet, had 

 let drive as the dog rushed in to fix him. The first 

 stroke, aimed at one of his eyes, missed, and took 

 effect on the forehead, making a wound you could 

 put the tip of your finger in. The second stroke 

 crippled a foreleg, and the dog needed no more 

 calling, but limped back to his master. 



' Come here and let's see the mischief. Well, 

 you've got something to remember this time. It's 

 been a precious near squeak for you, Nep, but you'll 

 get over it, and you'll not try to pick up a live 

 Jack Hern again ; you'll let 'em alone as long as you 

 live, I'll warrant.' 



The bird lay with crest raised, his long neck 

 moving snake-like from side to side, and the feathers 

 of the breast spread out, all ready to do battle. Walk- 

 ing up to him, the man said, ' No, you don't ; not 

 with me, at any rate ; take that ! ' hitting him a crack 

 on the head with the butt-end of his gun. The heron 

 raised himself for a last stroke at his enemy's legs. 



A keeper once said to me, ' No ; I never lets a 

 retriever pick up one o' they hungry varmints unless 

 they're dead. If they only gets winged I give 'em a 

 cut across the neck with a stick a thund'rin' good 

 un, mind ye, and that settles 'em.' 



