102 AMERICAN GAME. 
genial, the wind south-westerly, the meadows green with 
succulent and tender grasses, and moist with the deposit 
of subsiding waters—select thy grounds carefully ; in 
such a time as I have named, the wide and open marsh 
meadows; but if the wind be from the eastward, cold, 
squally and snow laden, then try the bushy, briery brakes, 
where cattle poach the soil, and the marsh waters creep, 
or the verge of the meadows, under the lea of the maple 
swamp, or at the worst the very grounds where you would 
beat for woodcock in July—begin from the farthest wind- 
ward point of thy beat, casting thy brace of setters off 
from thy heel, to the right and left, and so often as they 
have diverged one hundred yards, turning them with a 
whistle and a wave of the hand, so that they shall cross 
continually before thy face, down wind of thee, at some 
thirty paces distant; and so persevere—if birds be plenty 
and lie well, walking not to exceed two miles the hour; 
if they be rare and wild, four miles, or by ’r lady! five, if 
thou mayest compass it. If one dog stand, while the 
other’s back is turned, whistle, that he shall turn his head, 
then hold thy hand aloft, with one quiet “toho/” but no 
shouting ; if he be broke, he shall stand like a carved 
stone. Then walk up to the point leisurely, be sure that 
thou go down wind, making a circuit if needs be, with thy 
gun at half-cock, the ball of thy thumb on the hammer, 
and the nail of thy fore-finger inside the guard, but not 
upon the trigger. When the bird rises, cock your gun, 
and down him! If thy dogs do their devoir, they shall 
