254 THE GROUSE 



good hour's walk which will take you 

 across the valley and up to those sunny 

 stubbles on the far side, where the black- 

 game are sure to be feeding. 



Nor are your hopes misplaced, for as you 

 pass through the "steading " of the white- 

 harled hill farm, the slopes of the fields 

 above look as though they were covered 

 with a flock of rooks. 



To gain your stations for the drive, 

 which is settled in a hasty council of war, 

 entails moving with circumspection, for 

 you have to pass close under where the 

 birds are sitting, and a false move would 

 bring you into view of one of our keenest 

 sighted birds, and spoil the whole 

 manoeuvre. 



But all goes well, though there was 

 one breathless moment when it looked as 

 though an old blackcock had picked you 

 up, as he craned his neck forward 

 suspiciously ; but you outwitted him 

 successfully, and ten minutes later are 

 crawling up the old ruinous dyke to the 

 gateway which is to be your stand. 



