TOM DRAW'S VISIT TO PINE BROOK. 189 



off abruptly to the left, crossing a muddy streamlet by a small 

 wooden bridge. Here Harry paused, flung the stump of his 

 cheroot into the ditch, and dropping the butt of his gun, began 

 very quietly to load, I following his example without saying a 

 word. 



" Here we are, Frank,' 5 said he ; " this long stripe of rushy 

 fields, on both sides of the ditch, is what they call the long mea- 

 dow, and rare sport have I had on it in my day, but I'm afraid 

 it's too wet now we'll soon see, though," and he strode across 

 the fence, and waved the dogs off to the right and left. " You 

 take the right hand, Frank ; and Tom, keep you the ditch bank, 

 all the way ; the ground is firmest there ; we've got the wind 

 in our favor ; a little farther off, Frank, they wont lie hard for 

 an hour or two, at all events ; and I don't believe we shall find 

 a bird before we cross the next fence." 



Heads up and sterns down, off raced the fleet setters, beating 

 the meadows fairly from the right hand fence to the ditch, 

 crossing each other in mid course, and quartering the ground 

 superbly but nothing rose before them, nor did their motions 

 indicate the slightest taint of scent upon the dewy herbage. The 

 ground, however, contrary to Harry's expectations, was in prime 

 order loose, loamy, moist, black soil, with the young tender 

 grass of spring shooting up everywhere, bright, succulent and 

 sweet ; tall tufts of rushes here and there, and patches of brown 

 flags, the reliques of the by-gone year, affording a sure shelter 

 for the timid waders. The day was cool and calm, with a soft 

 mellow light for the sun was curtained, though not hidden, 

 by wavy folds of gauze-like mist and a delicious softness in 

 the mild western breeze, before which we were wending our 

 way, as every one who would bag snipe, must do, down wind. 

 We crossed the second fence ; the ground was barer, wetter, 

 splashy in places, and much poached by the footsteps of the 

 cattle, which had been pastured there last autumn. See, the red 

 dog has turned off at a right angle from his course ; he lifts his 

 head high, straightens his neck and snuffs the air slackening his 

 pace to a slow, guarded trot, and waving his stern gently Chase 

 sees him, pauses, almost backs ! 



" Look to, Frank there's a bird before him !" 



Skeap ! skeap ! skeap ! up they jumped eighty yards off 

 at the least, as wild as hawks ; skimming the surface of the 

 meadow, and still by their shrill squeak calling up other birds 

 to join them till seven or eight were on the wing together ; 



