GROUSE. 131 



essential requisites for the species of hunting we were going 

 to undertake. 



Forthwith we set out, climbing the wire fence that 

 separated the civilization of the grounds from the wilderness 

 of the woods beyond, and walking quickly- over the crisp 

 white snow, frozen as dry as sand by north winds blowing it 

 hither and thither all night, until a shrubbery of pines 

 iindergrown by furze bushes was reached. Disregarding the 

 rabbits that peopled this region and were skipping about 

 amongst the roots in scores, I reserved my fire for a moment 

 or two, as just ahead, at top of the little burn coming 

 tinkling down the hill through a channel rugged with icicles, 

 lay a reedy marsh surrounded by larches and overhung by 

 willows a likely spot for ducks on such a day as this ; so 

 we moved slowly up, taking advantage of thick patches of 

 snow to deaden all sound of our footfalls, with increasing 

 caution as we drew near the spot whence the surface of the 

 ponds could be seen. A few yards further the willows rose 

 above the gorge bushes ahead, and from the last sheltering 

 bush the weed-grown surface of the partially frozen tarn 

 could be observed. The first glance round was not promising, 

 but a second and more careful scrutiny showed a bunch of 

 .ducks feeding quietly at the far end of the water. 



Despatching a handy stable boy, watching the proceeding 

 Avith vast interest from a neighbouring lane, to make a 

 detour and take th'em in rear, I repressed the ardour of the 

 dog, who was trembling in every limb with cold and excite- 

 ment, and waited with eyes on the birds and finger on the 

 triggers. For a few minutes they continued their methodical 

 feeding, coasting along the half-frozen edges of the reeds, 

 and now and again tipping themselves up to explore the mud 

 of the bottom. But soon they get an uneasy fancy that 

 something is approaching them from the far side, and up go 

 their heads, and they crowd together, turning this way and 

 that in nervousness, which comes to a climax as the form of 

 our boy breaks through the bushes. A second afterwards, 



