154 WILD SPORTS IN THE SOUTH. 



" There, I know I can do as well as that," remarked Miss Jack- 

 son, looking at the bird skimming over the ground. 



" I 'm sure you kin," said Mike. 

 "Escape!" "Escape!" "Escape!" croaked out three birds, 

 as they launched away from before us. Miss Jackson fired a 

 double shot, and one bird fell 



"Well done, that!" 



" Escape ! " croaked another bird, as it rose on our left among 

 some flags. Mike, who had been watching the hunt with great 

 interest, ejaculated, "Wall, I'll take a turn now!" and, aiming 

 with his rifle, fired. The bird fell as if knocked by a ball-bat, and 

 Mike on going up to it said, as he lifted it up by its wings, 

 " Knocked into a grease-spot !" 



There was a universal laugh at the quaint figure of the hunter, 

 in his buckskin suit, and the air of derision with which he picked 

 up his fragment of a bird, and held it at arm's length, 



" Wall, ef any body had told me that I would have ever gone 

 a-birdin' with this ere old rifle, I would hev told that body he was 

 a fool!" 



Wag seemed to have got somewhat in the mood of hunting 

 around, inspired by our shouts and firing, and ran about hither 

 and yon, springing the birds up before us like a cocking spaniel. 



" There ! " called out the Doctor, as the dog got up another 

 bird, " I told you that dog had a great deal of intelligence ; this is 

 the very first time, would you believe it, he has ever been hunted 

 over snipe." 



" I can certainly credit it, sir," answered Jackson drily, as he 

 capped his gun. 



Away went another snipe, right before the Doctor, who banged 

 away with both barrels, and brought down the bird. 



"Escape!" "Escape!" said two more snipe, flushing right by 

 the Doctor. Bang ! bang ! sounded Jackson's gun and they both 

 fell at the shot. 



" Hold hard there, don't shoot over me that way ; just think, I 

 can't dodge!" cried the Doctor, waving his hand energetically 

 toward us, as he sunk in a quagmire. 



 That proves your valour in the face of danger. There 's 



