SHAUN RUADHA. 



serves none of these things, but practically re- 

 marks that, " Av there's a cock in the wurrld, 

 there's won to be got " in the neighbourhood, 

 and he proceeds to trample and flog briar and 

 bramble and roar, " Hie, cock ! hie, cock ;" 

 with vehemence, until he abandons the exer- 

 cise through sheer exhaustion. The dogs are 

 not able to do much on account of the tangle 

 of thorns ; but just as Shaun temporarily rests 

 from his labours both are setting on the barest 

 track in the place. " 'Tis a cock for sartain," 

 whispers Shaun, "and mebbe two. Steady, 

 Bob !" Bob is as steady as a rock, Nell backs 

 with a rigidity of manner that is admired after 

 its fashion in a duchess as well as in a setter, 

 the moor fowler with hand on trigger is pre- 

 pared for the flushing of a glorious addition to 

 supper, and a wretched Jack-snipe jerks from 

 under Bob's nose, and goes away unmolested. 

 Later on, however, fortune is kinder to the 

 sportsman, and a couple of cock reward him 

 for his perseverance, together with two brace 

 of snipe. These birds with changes of weather 

 shift their haunts from the low marshy grounds 

 to the drier uplands, but frequent the moist 



