158 FOREST CEEATUEES. 



before. It is a laughable sight. And now turning on 

 the opposite side of your hut, you look what is to be seen 

 there, and behold ! another " medicine man " is having 

 his dance. Does the distance, as viewed through your 

 peep-hole deceive you, and is he not within range of 

 your gun ? — It was too far, for the bird runs a dozen 

 yards as if a shot or two had touched him, and then 

 stalks, and jumps, and pirouettes as before. And yonder 

 are three, four, five, six more, but far off and beyond 

 reach of mine or my comrade's gun. Now they come 

 hopping along like boys jumping in sacks ; and they 

 may at last be within range ; but now they stop and 

 go off in another direction with their necks made as 

 long as possible, poking close to the ground. One flies 

 to the lower branches of a young birch, and chuckles 

 inwardly at the recollection of his wooing. Presently 

 he takes wing, and you watch him making for the 

 forest; but you tell yourself he will be there again 

 to-morrow, and there is satisfaction in that certainty. 

 One after the other flies away, for it is day now, and 

 you are glad to emerge from your shelter and move 

 your benumbed limbs ; and though there is a two hours' 

 walk before getting home, and half of it wading through 

 water, still there is a warm breakfast in perspective, 

 and that is at all times cheering. 



From the other hut comes my comrade ; and what 

 has he shot ? There lie six fine cocks, as the result of 



