The American Woodcock. 693 



above you ; then the sound ceases and, as you pause to listen for 

 it, there comes to the ear that shrill whistle, so like the midsummer 

 twitter of the kingbird, that warns you to •• mark cock." You see 

 a brown flash among the green cedars, and the bird darts out to 

 plunge into the swamp ; but as he sees you, he turns sharply and 

 down the path, straight away. You have plenty of time ; 

 bring up your gun deliberately, cover the bird and, when it is about 

 thirty yards distant, fire, and it is yours. At the report of the gun 

 your dog appears on the bank above, pauses a moment until you 

 have slipped another cartridge into the gun, and then dashes oft 

 toward where the bird lies. A word steadies him as he approaches 



ul after quartering once or twice, the scent reaches his nostrils. 

 He feels for it, then pauses, and at command steps forward, gently 

 takes the bird in his mouth, and trots slowly toward you, express- 

 ing as much pride and satisfaction in his face and in his slowly 

 wagging tail as if he had captured the prize without any assistance of 

 yours. On again, along the border of the swamp, sometimes stoop- 

 in- low to pass beneath the tangled underbrush, or forcing your 

 way through the thick alders, making the dead stems crack and fly, 

 or passing through a spot free from low shrubs, where the tall, gray 

 trunks of the hardwood trees stand far apart, and the footfall is 

 scarcely heard on the damp, dead leaves. For some time the dog 

 works quietly ahead of yon. manifesting none of the signs which 

 would lead you to suspect that birds were near ; but as you approach 

 a little arm of the swamp which runs up a narrow ravine, the merry 

 action of the setter's tail warns you to be prepared for the point. 

 there where the wind lias swept aside the leaves, exposing the 

 black mud beneath, you see in it dozens of little round holes which 

 tell you that the long bill has been at work here. Suddenly he 

 stops and stands quite still, except that the tip of his tail moves a 

 little from side to side. As you step up to him, he moves on again, 

 very slowly and cautiously, and then suddenly stops and remains 

 motionless. It is a pretty picture, and one that the sportsman never 

 I of watching and admiring. The dog's forefoot is raised in the 

 act of stepping, his tail is straight and rigid, head a little above the 

 line of the back and slightly turned to one side, ears a little pricked. 

 Walk up beside him and look at his face, and you will see, what 



attitude already indicates, that he is laboring under strong 

 excitement. His nose is perhaps within a few inches of the bird. 



44A 



