My First Woodcock. 113 



cross in taking a short cut, which I usually 

 did^ and there I met old John the keeper, 

 xvho had come out to look for me, fearing 

 something had happened, as I was long after 

 my usual time. On mentioning my fright to 

 him he could not help laughing, and told me 

 there was a nest'of young owls in an old pollard 

 oak to which the gate was hung. I fancy, from 

 the noise they made, father, mother, and 

 children must have all joined in resisting my 

 untimely visit to the vicinity of their mansion. 

 I have made a long digression, and it is 

 quite time I got back to our cock-shooting. 

 Lewis seemed to know intuitively where to find 

 them, and beat his ground thoroughly. He 

 never spared himself, and poked his stick into 

 every hole and corner. There is nothing like 

 beating every inch of your ground, as cocks 

 will lie very close at times, whilst at others 

 th^ey are off at the first alarm. I recollect 

 Lewis saying he felt certain there must be 

 a cock lying in one most difficult place to get 

 at. It was under a kind of waterfall sur- 

 rounded by holly bushes ; we shouted and beat 

 the bushes all round, but nothing came of it. 

 Lewis was not to be beaten, and after great 



