240 ARDENMOHR. 



small bird is distinctly heard, the mere fidgetting of 

 a restless squirrel overhead twitches one's nerves, 

 and in the dead stillness the hum of a flying beetle 

 sounds like the boom of a distant railway train. 



As all had been now placed, silence continued for a 

 good while, until by-and-by came the far-off sound 

 of the horn, to tell that the beaters had moved on. 

 They were still much too far away to be heard, yet 

 their approach was very soon indicated by the move- 

 ments of the game. 



First appear the wary blackcocks, one or two at 

 a time, going quickly past ; next come the fine-eared 

 hares, some of them louping leisurely along, or now 

 and again stopping to throw back their ears and listen, 

 while others, more alarmed, go scudding straight 

 down the wood. By-and-by the great capercailzie 

 begin to skim past the tree-tops, but, as yet, I had 

 not got a shot, although a huge cock whished into a 

 tree quite near ; but I dare not leave my post, and 

 presently he flew off at the other side, when I saw 

 him go down the wood quite out of range. 



By this time, shot after shot sounded near me, and 

 twice I had heard the gun to my left. Ha, at last ! 

 three roe-deer coming down the wood on my right 

 hand. Hang it ! they have turned. No, not quite ; the 



