HERON-HAWKING. 
225 
good heron if they adopt the same tactics that he does in 
mounting. This the two old hawks know full well. So 
far they have been pretty near together, but, seeing the 
prey beginning to mount, they separate, each their own 
way, now taking a long turn down wind, and then 
breasting the wind again. * De Ruyter’ makes the best 
rings, and after having gone a mile, there is a shout— 
‘ Now “De Ruyter” is above him !’ and the hawk is seen 
poising herself for a stoop ; down she comes, with closed 
wings, like a bullet, and hits the heron ; it is too high 
to see where , but the scream the quarry gives is 
tremendous. Hurrah ! there ’s a stoop for you ! Both 
hawk and heron have descended some yards ; the former, 
from the impetus of her stoop, much beneath the heron, 
but she shoots up again to a level. In fact, it was a perfect 
stoop. Though so near the heron, she does not attempt a 
little stoop, but again heads the wind so that the heron 
appears to be flying the hawk. ‘ Sultan’ is now above 
both, and makes her stoop, but not so good as her partner’s. 
However, she makes two quickly, and is within an ace 
of catching ; but the good heron will not give an inch, 
and ‘ Sultan’ will have to give another ring for another 
stoop. But where is ‘ De Ruyter’ all this time ? She 
has made a long ring, and is now a long way above 
them. She makes another full stoop, and this time there 
is no mistake about it, for she hits the heron so hard that r 
he is nearly stupefied. ‘Sultan’ joins in the fray and 
G G 
