110 WARWICK WOODLANDS. 



to fire the loose shot. The remaining birds skimmed down the 

 hill, and lighted in the thick bushy hedge-row, as Archer had 

 foreseen. 



" So much for Ely !" exclaimed Harry " had we both used 

 two of them, we should have bagged four then. As it is, I 

 have killed one which we shall not get ; a thing that I most 

 particularly hate." 



" That bird will rise again,'' said Frank. 



" Never!" replied the other, " he has one, if not two, shot in 

 him, well forward if I am not much mistaken, before the wing 

 he is dead now ! but let us on. These we must follow, for 

 they are on our line ; you keep this side the fence, and I will 

 cross it with the dogs come with me, Timothy." 



In a few minutes more there was a dead point at the hedge- 

 row. 



" Look to, Frank !" 



" Ay ! ay ! Poke them out, Tim ;" then followed sundry 

 bumps and threshings of the briers, and out with a noisy flutter 

 burst two birds under Forester's nose. Bang ! bang ! 



" The first shot too quick, altogether," muttered Archer ; 

 "Ay, he has missed one ; mark it, Tim there he goes down in 

 the corn, by jingo you've got that bird, Frank ! That's well ! 

 Hold up, Shot" another point within five yards. " Look out 

 again, Frank." 



But this time vainly did Tim poke, and thrash, and peer into 

 the bushes yet still Shot stood, stiff as a marble statue then 

 Chase drew up and snuffed about, and pushed his head and 

 fore-legs into the matted briers, and thereupon a muzzling noise 

 ensued, and forthwith out he came, mouthing a dead bird, 

 warm still, and bleeding from the neck and breast. 



" Frank, he has got my bird and shot, just as I told you, 

 through the neck and near the great wing joint good dog I 

 good dog !" 



" The devil 1" 



" Yes, the devil ! but look out man, here is yet one more 

 point ;" and this time ten or twelve birds flushed upon Archer's 

 side ; he slew, as usual, his brace, and as they crossed, at long 

 distance, Frank knocked down one more the rest flew to the 

 corn-field. 



In the middle of the buckwheat they flushed another, and, in 

 the rye, another bevy, both of which crossed the stream, and 

 settled down among the alders. They reached the corn-field, 



