158 ARDENMOHR. 



" No doubt ; then suppose Fred and you do the 

 shooting on the way home by the loch. We did 

 not hunt near the water on our side. Abbott and 

 I shall criticize." 



"Just the thing," I said. "It is a pity we 

 should disturb the moor between the Lodge and the 

 loch; leave that for a shot or two as we walk 

 over to fish occasionally." 



" Correct, < Sapientissimus ; ' then that's settled." 



"Ward and Fred now went to the front, and 

 both setters were loosed, as we wished to see them 

 hunt together ; and, truly, their behaviour did 

 Archie credit. A fine sight it is when a couple 

 of dogs quarter the ground well, and back each 

 other with ready intelligence. 



The first intimation of game was by Mel stopping 

 suddenly in mid career. She had seen Monk set 

 birds in a hollow to the right. On going up, a 

 covey of six rose. Ward missed and killed; and 

 Fred made a right and left the third time he 

 had done so to- day. 



"Bravo, Freddy!" shouted the Major; "Hope 

 must now give you the sandwich-box." 



"I suppose I must," said Ward; "for as likely 

 as not he may fluke again." 



