78 THE GROUSE 



'em a bit of sport. I shouldn't be surprised if 

 they think us worth another shot." 



They had not long to wait before the white 

 dog was over the ridge, and then in a minute the 

 chase began again. This time they were a little 

 exhausted by their exciting run and flight, and 

 the Old Cock thought it more prudent to scatter 

 a little and lie very close indeed. 



"But mind you get up when I do," he im- 

 plored them. "Think of your feelings if you 

 saw your dear father killed before your very 

 eyes ! " 



The dogs came up at a snail's pace, staring 

 stiffly, hardly to be moved at all. 



" The deuce take 'em," they heard a voice say. 

 " This lot seems tryin 1 to waste time ! w 



" Kuk-kuk," replied the Old Cock, who could 

 lie still no longer under such an aspersion. 



" Whirr ! " went the covey again, and this time 

 six barrels rang out, and the Old Cock felt a 

 stray pellet or two rattle on his feathers. "A 

 close shave that ! " said he. " I wonder how the 

 others got on. I thought I heard a few drop.' 1 



This time he took a longer flight, for, as he 

 said to himself, twice under fire was really all that 

 could be expected of any covey, even on the 

 12th of August. He crossed into another valley, 

 higher up among the hills, and very desolate and 

 lonely looking ; the cover was short, and he could 

 see a long way over the moors. 



"And now," he remarked, as he spread his 



