Toward these we took our way by the same
road which we had followed in an opposite direction on the previous
night--but for a short space only--for having crossed the stream, by the
same bridge which we had passed on entering the village, Tom Draw pulled
down a set of bars to the left, and strode out manfully into the
stubble.
"Hold up, good lads!--whe-ew--whewt!" and away went the setters through
the moist stubble, heads up and sterns down, like fox-hounds on a
breast-high scent, yet under the most perfect discipline; for at the
very first note of Harry's whistle, even when racing at the top of their
pace, they would turn simultaneously, alter their course, cross each
other at right angles, and quarter the whole field, leaving no foot of
ground unbeaten.
No game, however, in this instance, rewarded their exertions; and on we
went across a meadow, and two other stubbles, with the like result. But
now we crossed a gentle hill, and, at its base, came on a level tract,
containing at the most ten acres of marsh land, overgrown with high
coarse grass and flags. Beyond this, on the right, was a steep rocky
hillock, covered with tall and thrifty timber of some thirty years'
growth, but wholly free from under-wood.
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