84 WARWICK WOODLANDS. 



yards. Turning as quick as light, I caught a fleet sight 

 of the other, which by a rapid zig-zag was now flying full 

 across my front, certainly over forty-five yards distant, 

 among a growth of thick-set saplings — the hardest shot, in 

 my opinion, that can be selected to test a quick and steady 

 sportsman. I gave it him, and down he came too — killed 

 dead — that I knew, for I had shot full half a yard before 

 him. Just as I dropped my butt to load, the hill began 

 to echo with the vociferous yells of master Dan, the quick 

 redoubled cracks of Harry's heavy dog-whip, and his in- 

 cessant rating — "Down, cha-arge! For sha-ame! Dan! 

 Dan! down cha-arge! for sha-ame!" — broken at times by 

 the impatient oaths of Tom Draw, in the gulley, who had, 

 it seems, knocked down two woodcock, neither of which 

 he could bagj owing to the depth and instability of the 

 wet bog. 



"Quit ! quit ! cuss you, quit there, leatherin that brute ! 

 Quit, I say, or I'll send a shot at you ! Come here, Archer 

 — I say, come here ! — there be the darndest lot of droppins 

 here, I ever see — full twenty cock, I swon!" 



But still the scourge continued to resound, and still the 

 raving of the spaniel excited Tom's hot ire. 



"Frank Forester!" exclaimed he once again. "Do see 

 now — Harry missed them partridge, and so he licks the 

 poor dumb brute for it. I wish I were a spannel, and 

 he'd try it on with me!" 



"I will, too," answered Archer, with a laugh; "I will, 

 too, if you wish it, though you are not a spaniel, nor any 

 thing else half so good. And why, pray, should I not 

 scourge this wild little imp? he ran slap into the best 

 pack of ruffed grouse I have seen this two years — fifteen 

 or sixteen birds. I wonder they're not scattered — it's full 

 late to find them packed !' 



"Did you kill ere a one?" Tom holloaed; "not one, 

 either of you !" 



"I did," answered Harry, "I nailed the old cock bird, 

 and a rare dog he is ! — two pounds, good weight, I war- 

 rant him," he added, weighing him as he spoke. "Look 

 at the crimson round his eye, Frank, like a cock pheas- 

 ant's, and his black ruff or tippet — by George! but he's a 

 beauty! And what did you do?" he contimied. 



"I bagged a brace — the only two that crossed me." 



"Did you, though?" exclaimed Archer, with no small 



