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 yells, that maie my hair fairly rise. Knowing 

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

 to see what was the matter. I had gone but 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 hear that welcome sound so 

 dear to the sportsonn's heart a gentle thud as she struck 

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

 sive nutter 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 blood-curdling yells that did not cease until we 

 struggled through the thicket into the open space under the 

 hemlock, where we found an overgrown lout 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 came to him he turned with flashing eyes upon the 

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



"Served you right shon at a poor defenseless partridge 

 up a tree, will you ? The next time you cat such a capar I 

 hope " 



"That you will sprain your ankle," added I, to the evident 

 discomfiture of Tom. 



At this juncture old Start made his appearance with the 

 bird in his mouth. 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 run! 3 a single one of her 

 beautiful feathers. SHADOW. 



