io8 WOODLAND, MOOR, AND STREAM 



splendid blackcock, in full dress, flies away. Why 

 they will sometimes allow one to come so very near 

 them is a mystery to me. As a rule they are the 

 most wary of game birds, and at the sound of foot- 

 steps are up and off. I have actually known them to 

 be captured by hand when the plumage has been 

 saturated with the dew which the bird has brushed off 

 the cover in ranging for his food. As I trudge on, a 

 rabbit now and then dots across the path till I reach 

 the main track through the woods. Here I fall in 

 with one of the woodmen, on his way home. 



' So you've come to have a look at us agin, have 

 ye ? I was lookin' at somethin' from my house the 

 other night that was going on over this way.' 



'What could you see from that distance? ' 



' Why, the forest on fire again. I could see the 

 flames travelling high up at racing speed, and knew 

 by the direction where it was burning. It warn't 

 only here, 'twas on the other hills as well, about the 

 same time too ; but bless ye ! 'twas only a lick just 

 to clear the tangle off.' 



' Is that long stretch in the valley below where it 

 raged ? ' 



' Yes, but it ain't nothin' of any account. Why 

 'tis all tuffety a'ready with fresh feed for the stock. 

 As 'twas, and had been, 'twas nothing better than a 



