WILD LIFE ON THE WING 
footed over the dead leaves, Creaman was 
generally awakened before he came to the 
place. Then, when the dog's head was thrust 
between the saplings, he would spring up some 
six or eight feet, and bounce back to earth a 
little distance behind his former " lie." The 
dog never became used to this manoeuvre. He 
always waited for the report of the gun, and 
when it did not come, he used to range forward 
again. After alighting Creaman always ran 
away at right angles to the place. He ran in 
quick little bursts like a plover, and carried his 
long bill through the briars with great dexterity. 
When the dog was recalled the scent was cold, 
and he either missed Creaman altogether or 
else flushed him out of gunshot. 
The cold snap lasted while the moon dwindled 
to its last quarter, and then came a thaw. Even 
then, when most of the other woodcock left 
Garrybrack, Creaman with a few of his kind 
remained there. But each popular feeding 
ground had been so well probed that the sur- 
vivors were put on short commons, and were 
driven to the most dangerous and barren feeding 
grounds. 
The Man's house stood at one end of Garry- 
brack, and night after night its light burned 
steadily between the tree trunks. None of the 
Fur Folk trespassed close to the place, because 
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