202 TOM draw's visit to pine brook. 



Tom, keep you the ditch bank, all the way ; the ground is 

 firmest there; we've got the wind in our favor; a little 

 farther ofF, Frank, they won't lie hard for an hour or 

 two, at all events ; and I don't believe we shall find a bird 

 before we cross the next fence." 



Heads up and stems down, oflF raced the fleet setters, 

 beating the meadows fairly from the right hand fence to 

 the ditch, crossing each other in mid course, and quarter- 

 ing the ground superbly — but nothing rose before them, 

 nor did their motions indicate the slightest taint of scent 

 upon the dewy herbage. The ground, however, contrary 

 to Harry's expectations, was in prime order — loose, loamy, 

 moist, black soil, with the young tender grass of spring 

 shooting up everywhere, bright, succvdent and sweet; tall 

 tufts of rushes here and there, and patches of brown flags, 

 the reliques of the by-gone year, affording a sure shelter 

 for the timid waders. The day was cool and calm, with 

 a soft mellow light — for the sun was curtained, though 

 not hidden, by wavy folds of gauze-like mist — and a deli- 

 cious softness in the mild western breeze, before which 

 we were wending our way, as every one who would bag 

 snipe J must do, down wind. We crossed the second fence; 

 the ground was barer, wetter, splashy in places, and much 

 poached by the footsteps of the cattle, which had been 

 pastured there last autumn. See, the red dog has turned 

 off at a right angle from his course ; he lifts his head high, 

 straightens his neck and snuffs the air slackening his 

 pace to a slow, guarded trot, and waving his stern gently — 

 Chase sees him, pauses, almost backs! 

 "Look to, Frank — there's a bird before him !" 

 Skeap ! skeap ! skeap ! — up they jumped eighty yards off 

 at the least, as wild as hawks; skimming the surface of 

 the meadow, and still by their shrill squeak calling up 

 other birds to join them till seven or eight were on the 

 wing together; then up they rose clearly defined against 

 the sky, and wheeled in short zigzags above the plain, as if 

 uncertain whither they should fly, till at length they 

 launched off straight to the right hand, and after a flight 

 of a full mile, pitched suddenly and steeply down behind 

 a clump of newly budding birches. 



"I knows where them jokers be, Mr. Archer;" ex- 

 claimed Van Dyne. 



