40 GAME-BIRDS AT HOME 



in the boat; and sometimes he springs from it, 

 but stands anchored in his tracks where he 

 strikes the water. And birds are often springing 

 before he leaves the boat. 



Before you have firm anchorage for your feet 

 three or four woodcock may spring from the grass 

 and driftwood on the shore, and start on varied 

 curves for as many points of the compass. When 

 you reach the land you can hardly make the dog 

 move ahead, and about the time you think him 

 too cautious he comes to a sudden stop. Two 

 brown twittering lines wheel right and left in 

 front of him ; but when with extra quickness you 

 send one to earth and the other to the water, and 

 you think the dog ought to be proud of your 

 work, he merely turns his nose, first to the right, 

 then to the left, then to the right again. Before 

 you can take a step ahead, or even load your 

 gun, away whistles a cock on the right, another 

 on the left, and another from in front, with two 

 or three more curling out of some grass-covered 

 drift ahead ; and, before you or the dog can reach 

 either of the two that fell, half a dozen more are 

 twisting in as many directions. And so you may 

 go on from island to island, with the dog not 



