TEE GROUSE OF MAPLE BUN. 71 



the lower end the dogs came to a staunch point. Thinking 

 that the bird would go for the briers again, I clambered up 

 the side, and had just reached the top, when this fiendish 

 bird, with a malignity of purpose that I have never seen 

 equaled, started and flew straight for my head. Tom could 

 not see me, but I saw him raise his gun and I threw myself 

 flat on the ground, just in time to catch half a dozen pellets. 

 I had supposed that he was shooting fine shot, but was now 

 ready to make oath that each one was bigger than a pump- 

 kin. The bird was unharmed, and flew directly over me. 

 She did not see me until within four feet of my head, and I 

 shall never forget the scared expression of that bird's coun- 

 tenance. The tuft on her head rose right up like the clown's 

 hair in the pantomime, and, convulsively bsating the air with 

 her wings, she, knowing what to expect, cringed and 

 quivered in mortal fear. Springing to my feet, I deliberately 

 sighted her across the barrels and pulled the trigger. No re- 

 port followed, and, upon examining for the cause, I found 

 the main spring broken. I must confess that things looked 

 a little shaky, and I was almost persuaded that we were, as 

 Tom now insisted, pursuing a myth. It was now sunset, 

 and, crest-fallen and weary, we turned our faces toward 

 home. The only words spoken by either of us were a mu- 

 tual good-night, when we parted at the fork of the road, 

 t\ at led to Tom's house. We even forgot that we had any 

 birds, and omitted our usual quarrel, of each trying to make 

 the other take the game. Sadly 1 traversed the short dis- 

 tance home, and letting Start into the kitchen where I knew 

 that he would be well cared for, I silently stole up to my 

 room and went supperless to bed. 



I was up bttimes the nex 1 ; morning, and after an early 

 breakfast, shouldered my spare gun, whistled for Start, and 

 took the road for Maple Run, firmly resolved to bring home 

 that bird or perish in the attempt. When I, came in sight of 

 the fork of the road, there stood Tom leaning on Lis gun 

 waiting for me. " I knew that you would be here," said he, 

 "although nothing was said about it, for the manner and 

 tone which 3 ou (ai 1 good night assured me tha 1 ; your heart 



