OUR BIRDS IN WINTER. 
101 
berth. We were reposing in a little swamp 
that had furnished us with an abundance of 
food, and were enjoying the grateful rays of 
the sun as they penetrated our feathers. 
Suddenly we heard the cracking of sticks and 
twigs near us, and the voices of men talking 
together and to some animals that were mov- 
ing about us. All at once one of the' animals 
came near us, and, peering above the foliage 
I saw a white and brown dog with long silky 
hair, looking intently in our direction, appar- 
ently pointing us out to its master who was 
drawing near. Immediately the man, on per- 
ceiving the dog, began to hurry toward it, 
saying, ^ Steady ! Toho, steady ! ’ Before we 
could conjecture the meaning of the man’s 
words, he was joined by one of his compan- 
ions, when he said to the traitorous beast, 
^ Put ’em out, old dog,’ and at the instant the 
dog sprang at us ; half dead with fright, we 
flew up, when the men discharged their guns 
at us. Several of my companions fell, but I 
was fortunate enough to escape, although 
I heard the shot hissing by me almost within 
