224 A SPORTING PARADISE 



shadows, while the great silence grew deeper 

 and deeper, as if the wilderness itself were in 

 sympathy and ceased its cries to listen. Once, 

 at the first glimpse of the group, I had raised 

 my rifle and covered the head of the largest bird ; 

 but curiosity to know what they were doing held 

 me back. Now a deeper feeling had taken its 

 place ; the rifle slid from my hand and lay un- 

 noticed among the fallen leaves. 



<c Again the leader called. The flock drew itself 

 up, like a row of grey-brown statues, every eye 

 bright, every ear listening, till some vague sense 

 of fear and danger drew them together ; and they 

 huddled on the ground in a close group, all but 

 the leader, who stood above them, counting 

 them over and over, apparently, and anon send- 

 ing his cry out into the darkening woods, etc., 

 etc. . . . 



"I raised my head and gave the clear whit- 

 whit of a running partridge. Instantly the 

 leader answered : the flock sprang to the log 

 again and turned their heads in my direction 

 to listen. Another call, and now the flock 

 dropped to the ground and lay close, while the 

 leader drew himself up straight on the log and 

 became part of a dead stub beside him. 



