SNIPE SHOOTING. 61 



west directly athwart our course, and Dash, our 

 friend's setter, taking- it in his nostrils, com- 

 menced to quarter his ground at a fast gallop, 

 edging more and more in the wind, while Czar, 

 after casting a jealous glance at the other's mo- 

 tions, drew up in his track and threw his nose 

 high, snuffing the air; then advancing a few 

 yards, he looked around to catch our eye, and led 

 straight at a half crouch, as was his habit when 

 winding on a strong scent. 



We had watched his motions from the moment 

 we rose to the bank, and working leisurely up, 

 now felt sure that birds were within a few hun- 

 dred feet of us, as we could actually see them 

 feeding and flitting up on the meadow. 



In this way, taking no notice whatever of a 

 shot from T. at an outlying bird, he continued on 

 towards the bend of the meadow, and crossing 

 the run at the old spot, halted and stood firm to 

 his point on the very edge of the rushes, which 

 covered about two acres of ground. 



We waved our hand to T., who was up in a 

 moment, and for a single portentous instant, we 

 both paused, gazing with admiring eyes at the 

 striking picture before us. 



The attitude of the dogs, each as he stood like 



O ' 



stone, was intensely apprehensive and life-like. 



