"Here, Tom," said Harry, "keep you along this run--you'll have a
woodcock every here and there, and look sharp when you hear them fire
over the ridge, for they can't shoot to speak of, and the ruffed grouse
will cross--you know. You, master Frank, stretch your long legs and get
three parts of the way up this hill--over the second mound--there, do
you see that great blue stone with a thunder-splintered tree beside it?
just beyond that! then turn due west, and mark the trending of the
valley, keeping a little way ahead of me, which you will find quite
easy, for I shall have to beat across you both. Go very slow, Tom--now,
hurrah!"
Exhorted thus, I bounded up the hill and soon reached my appointed
station; but not before I heard the cheery voice of Archer encouraging
the eager spaniels--"Hie cock! hie cock! pu-r-r-h!"--till the woods rang
to the clear shout.
Scarce had I reached the top, before, as I looked down into the glen
below me, a puff of white smoke, instantly succeeded by a second, and
the loud full reports of both his barrels from among the green-leafed
alders, showed me that Tom had sprung game. The next second I heard the
sharp questing of the spaniel Dan, followed by Harry's "Charge!--down
Cha-arge, you little thief--down to cha-arge, will you!"
But it was all in vain--for on he went furious and fast, and the next
moment the thick whirring of a grouse reached my excited ears.
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