WILY'S STORY 39 



our kennel, lest they should betray us to the 

 keepers, who are also often abroad at that time. 

 The worst is, that at times, when Ave think we have 

 got away from hounds which are hunting us, these 

 birds, by making a noise and darting doAvn almost 

 upon us, as they continue to do where we run along, 

 point out to the hunters exactly where we are. 



It has often happened that I have been betrayed 

 by an old cock pheasant. No bird has a quicker 

 eye than he has, and directly he saw me he would 

 begin kuckupping, and continue to make this noise 

 as long as I remained near him, obhging me to 

 move away. 



My hfe during the summer months was one of 

 almost uninterrupted pleasure. Naturally fixing 

 my headquarters near the part of the country 

 where I was bred, I would often ramble by night a 

 great distance, and frequently remarked with 

 surprise, as I crossed any line that I had taken when 

 hunted, the wonderful straightness with which I had 

 pursued it, as it was often in a direction where there 

 were no large woods or earths ; but I recollected 

 that I had the wind for my only guide, and went 

 as if blowni forward by it ; so that I could hear 

 whether the hounds were following me at a greater 

 distance than if I had gone against it ; and besides 



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