WARWICK WOODLANDS. 161 



of the hill. Here Harry took the left or lower hand, bidding 

 Frank keep near the outside at top, and full ten yards ahead 

 of him. 



" And mind, if you hear Tom shoot, or cry mark? jump over 

 into the open field, and be all eyes, for that's their line of country 

 into the swamp, where we would have them. Hold up, good 

 dogs, hold up !" 



And off they went, crashing and rattling through the dry 

 matted briers, crossing each other evenly, and quartering the 

 ground with rare accuracy. Scarcely, however, had they beat 

 ten paces, before Shot flushed a cock as he was in the very act 

 of turning at the end of his beat, having run in on him down 

 wind, without crossing the line of scent. Flip flip flap rose 

 the bird, but as the dog had turned, and was now running from 

 him, he perceived no cause for alarm, fluttered a yard or two 

 onward, and alighted. The dog, who had neither scented nor 

 seen the bird, caught the sound of his wing, and stood stiff on 

 the instant, though his stern was waved doubtfully, and though 

 he turned his sagacious knowing phiz over his shoulder, as if to 

 look out for the pinion, the flap of which had arrested his quick 

 ear. The bird had settled ere he turned, but Shot's eye fell 

 upon his master, as with his finger on the trigger-guard, and 

 thumb on the hammer, he was stepping softly up in a direct 

 line, with eye intently fixed, toward the place where the 

 woodcock had dropped ; he knew as well as though he had 

 been blessed with human intellect, that game was in the wind, 

 and remained still and steady. Flip flap again up jumped the 

 bird. 



" Mark cock," cried Forester, from the other side of the wood, 

 not having seen any thing, but hearing the sound of the timber 

 doodle's wing somewhere or other ; and at the self-same moment 

 bang ! boomed the full report of Harry's right hand barrel, the 

 feathers drifting off down wind toward Frank, told him the work 

 was done, and he asked no question ; but ere the cock had struck 

 the ground, which he did within half a second, completely 

 doubled up whirr, whirr-r-r ! the loud and startling hubbub of 

 ruffed grouse taking wing at the report of Harry's gun, suc- 

 ceeded and instantly, before that worthy had got his eye about 

 from marking the killed woodcock, bang ! bang ! from Forester. 

 Archer dropped butt, and loaded as fast as it was possible, and 

 bagged his dead bird quietly, but scarcely had he done so before 

 Frank hailed him. 



