248 WITHIN AN HOUR OF LONDON TOWN. 



about in the swedes. They're whole curlews, not 

 jacks." 



"All right," said John; "I'll be here and see 

 what can be done with them." 



Two hours later, John and I were in the farm- 

 yard talking to Ned. "They're in the swedes, a 

 lot on 'em," he told us, "a reg'lar mob, an' no 

 mistake. They pitched about the middle o' the 

 field." 



Our plan was soon formed. I very quietly slipped 

 round the old, thick, black-thorn hedge at the far 

 end of the field, directly opposite to the point where 

 my friend would enter it. 



Then John set to work. One wave of the hand 

 to Don, his old Spanish pointer, was sufficient. 

 Through the hedge we could see him drawing 

 cautiously on and on ; for the dog winded them 

 very quickly. He stops for a moment, draws on 

 again, and then stands like a statue ; a full point, 

 and no mistake about it. Very quietly his master 

 nears him, and for a few moments man and dog 

 are alike motionless. Presently, what from our 

 hiding-place looks like a cloud of wings blots out 

 both. Then two reports ring out and two birds 



