80 THE GROUSE 



He took one glance and saw the three shooters 

 about forty yards away. 



" Still safe, I think, 11 he said, and was off in 

 an instant. 



He had a glimpse of his wife and son rising 

 too, and then " bang, bang, bang, bang ! " went 

 four barrels. 



"Just in time, 11 he said to himself. "They 

 surely can't have reached any of us." 



This time he flew on and on up the valley, and 

 still up, right to the crest of the hills. The sun 

 was low, it was quiet and far away here ; the 12th 

 at last was safely over. 



" I think we can stop now, 11 he remarked. 



There was no answer, and taking silence for 

 assent, he settled for the third time. 



" Any damage this time ? " he asked, but there 

 was still no answer. He looked round, and, 

 behold, he was alone. 



It took a minute or two to quite realise what 

 had happened. He looked down over miles of 

 moorland and green fields beyond, and the 

 shining waters of the lochs ; he saw the five 

 specks of men and the tiny white speck of a dog ; 

 they were going home, the day was finished. 



" Four brace of fine birds out of my covey, 11 

 he remarked complacently, " and I'm as sound as 

 a heather bell. A most successful 12th ! " 



