PARTRIDGE SHOOTING. 191 



as to pass within a few rods of the tree. I will 

 walk on your off side the hawk will not move ; 

 he sees only one thing at a time, and he knows 

 there is no harm in the old horse. My friend 

 will keep the dogs with him here at the fence, 

 and if you can manage to strike up a careless 

 whistle, Adam, so much the better." 



"Nay, nay," said the old man in a cracked 

 voice. " Fse done whistling this many a day 

 since my old dame died ; but, an' you like, I'll 



sing. 



"No, no, my good friend," I whispered as we 

 approached the tree, "that would spoil all." 

 The hawk still continued to feed, although I 

 was satisfied that he saw the horse plainly 

 enough ; once or twice he looked down upon us 

 as if in some distrust; but the farmer turned 

 the horse's head a little off from the tree, and 

 the bird quietly resumed its meal. We were 

 now close to the trunk ; Adam checked the 

 horse, and raising the gun, which I had previ- 

 ously kept out of sight as much as possible, I 

 took a quick aim and fired. The hawk dropped 

 but hung to its perch with one foot, while the 

 other still retained its prey. 



" Hurrah !" exclaimed the old man, "give him 

 the other barrel," and down the plunderer came 



