3'2 WARWICK WOODLANDS. 



at your first bird, this morning. I never cock either bar- 

 rel till I see my bird; and, if a bevy rises, only one at a 

 time. The birds will lie like stones here; and we cannot 

 walk too slow. Steady, Shot, have a care, sir!" 



Never, in all my life^ did I see any thing more perfect 

 than the style in which the setters drew those bogs. There 

 was no more of racing, no more of impetuous dash; it 

 seemed as if they knew the bii'ds wei'e close before them. 

 At a slow trot, their sterns whipping their flanks at every 

 step, they threaded the high tussocks. See! the red dog 

 straightens his neck, and snuffs the air. 



"Look to! look to, Frank! they are close before old 

 Chase!" 



Now he draws on again, crouching close to the earth. 

 "Toho! Shot!" Now he stands! no! no! not yet — at least 

 he is not certain ! He turns his head to catch his master's 

 eye! Now his stem moves a little; he draws on again. 



There! he is sure now! what a picture — his black full 

 eye intently glaring, though he cannot see any thing in 

 that thick mass of herbage; his nostril wide expanded, 

 his lips slavering from intense excitement ; his whole form 

 motionless, and sharply drawn, and rigid, even to the 

 straight stern and lifted foot, as a block wrought to mimic 

 life by some skilful sculptor's chisel ; and, scarce ten 

 yards behind, his liver-colored comrade backs him — as 

 firm, as stationary, as immovable, but in his attitude, 

 how different ! Chase feels the hot scent steaming up 

 under his very nostril ; feels it in every nerve, and quivers 

 with anxiety to dash on his prey, even while perfectly 

 restrained and steady. Shot, on the contrary, though a 

 few minutes since he too was drawing, knows nothing of 

 himself, perceives no indication of the game's near pres- 

 ence, although improved by discipline, his instinct t^lls 

 him that his mate has found them. Hence the same rigid 

 form, stiff tail, and constrained attitude, but in his face — 

 for dogs have faces — there is none of that tense energy, 

 that evident anxiety ; there is no frown upon his brow, no 

 glare in his mild open eye, no slaver on his lip! 



"Come up, Tom; come up, Frank, they are ail here; 

 we must get in six barrels; thev will not move; come up, 

 I say!" 



And on we came, deliberately prompt, and ready. Now 

 we were all in line; Harry the centre man, I on the right. 



