THE GROUSE OF MAPLE RUN. 75 



ears were saluted with the heavy report of a gun from under 

 the tree, followed by a prolonged succession of unearthly 

 shrieks and } r ells, that ma le my hair fairly ri*e. Knowing 

 that some one was in serious trouble, we started upon a run 

 to see what was the matter. I had gone bat a few steps 

 when I caught a glimpse of a ghostly streak passing over- 

 head. Throwing my gun well ahead of it, I pulled the 

 trigger, and was overjoyed to he. r that welcome sound so 

 dear to ihj sportsmin's heart — a gentle thud as she struck 

 the groun I. With quickening pulse I listened to the convul- 

 sive flu, ter with which our gallant spirit-bird gave up her 

 ghost. I did not go back for her, but hastened in the direc- 

 tion of those bl x)d- curdling yells that did not cease until we 

 struggled through the thicket into the open space under the 

 hemlock, where wc found an overgrown 1 jut of a boy hanging 

 head downward on the slippery ledge, with one foot caught 

 in a crevice of the rock. We released him unharmed, and 

 went up the bank into the open where we found Tom hold- 

 ing his sides and laughing like one possessed. As soon as 

 we caxe to him he turned w th flashing eyes up3n the 

 culprit, and, shaking his long, bony fiDger at him, exclaimed: 



"S rved you right — 3ho >t at a p:>or difen^eless partridge 

 up a tree, will you ? The next time you c it sucii a cap3r I 

 hope " 



"That you willf-prain your ankle," added I, to the evident 

 discomfiture of Tom. 



At this j incture old Start mad^ his appearance with the 

 bird in his m juth. When Tom saw her he exclaimed— and 

 sticks to it to this day — that the dog caught her— and that 

 none of us were smart enough to ruffl.3 a single o^e of her 

 beautiful feathers. Shadow, 



