112 AMERICAN GAME. 



ing, game-bag on shoulder and cudgel in hand, the two 

 setters, just released from the chain, gambolling about 

 in the highest spirits and most admirable condition, as 

 was evinced by the moist coolness of their jet-black 

 noses, and the silky gloss of their deeply feathered 

 coats. 



" There is a piece of wild meadow here, Charley," 

 said Archer, pointing across a pair of bars to the right, 

 " which, before the banks were broke, and the tide got in, 

 used to be the first in the country for spring shooting. 

 There are a good many birds in it now, I dare say, for it 

 has got plenty of covert, and they will seek covert in 

 such a wind as this." 



" Let us try it, then, if you say so." 



" It is most infernal walking, but it wont do to stick 

 at trifles. So here goes," and suiting the action to the 

 word, he strode across the fence, and at the first step 

 was mid-leg deep in a soft rust-colored sludge, half 

 semi-liquid mud and half semi-decomposed vegetable 

 matter. A few floundering strides through this Sirbo- 

 nian bog, brought them to drier, if not sounder ground, 

 which was, in truth, even harder walking than before, 

 as the soil was here so tenacious that it was difficult to 

 draw the leg out of the mire, into which it sunk ankle 

 deep. In places, this was covered by high reeds, stand- 

 ing wide apart, with splashes of shallow water covering 

 the surface, and here the bottom was harder ; in others, 

 a rank, short, rushy grass, w r hich had probably been 



