38 FEATHERED GAME 



made no returns. But we are on the old ledge 

 in more open cover at last. Scarcely have we 

 cleared the denser growth when the dog comes 

 to a halt. A warning glance at his master and 

 he commences trailing. Through the thickets 

 which straggle away from the main body of the 

 woods, — advanced guards creeping out among 

 the rocks, — down into the junipers below, on 

 and on, stopping here and there to point as the 

 bird halts, ever careful lest he start the game 

 too soon, waiting until his master gains a place 

 where he may shoot if the bird rises. Aha! 

 Frozen for keeps! Just the tip of his white 

 stern showing past the green wall of the juni- 

 pers. Whir-r-r-r-r ! Bang! Bang! ''Da — er 

 — Thunder«tion!" Away scales Mr. Grouse, 

 dropping down the hillside like an arrow slant- 

 ing earthward after a flight. Near the foot he 

 turns and careers out over the tops of the trees 

 to disappear among them three hundred yards 

 away. "Well, little dog, a good pointer and a 

 good gun are clean wasted on such a master. 

 But how should I know he would throw a sum- 

 mersault like that? Both loads went yards 

 over his back and I defy anyone to have pointed 



