2i6 WITH THE WOODLANDERS. 



is still the same : that at any rate has not altered in 

 its formation, although new-comers have scratched 

 about a bit. 



" What are you looking at, my man, so deeply ? " 

 I ask of a lad who was sheep tending. 



" Why, them 'ere big birds, hawks o' some sort ; I 

 think they be arter the partridges." 



"Where?" 



" Oh, you'll see 'em, no fear, they are gone up 

 the walley now, they'll come back agin; they've 

 bin goin' backwards an' forrards fur some time 

 now. Don't ye hear the birds holler? they're fat- 

 tened at 'em, I ken tell ye. There they be ! ain't 

 they big uns ? " 



A pair of hen - harriers these were, partridge 

 hawking, the grey cock and the larger ring-tailed 

 hen, a fine sight. They had not struck a quarry 

 yet, for partridges do not let hawks get them if 

 they can help it. The pair evidently thought they 

 had been wasting time for no purpose, for they 

 dashed past, over to a large field of swedes; and 

 here something must have told them they would 

 meet with better success, for they set to work like 

 a couple of pointers. 



