The Washington herald., 1908-07-12

they did. and planted out they beastesses
o. frs instead"
why do they do this planting?" Hugo
asked. Surely the natural trees Of the
Forest propagate themselves"
''Ha, ha" Burgess replied. That's a
bone of contention. My uncle, a YER
derer, contends that they don't; but OF
course they do. ! can show you half
dozen copses Of young oaks and beeches
within half a mile, but / can't show them
70 Sir Giles because he turns his eyes
the other way. Your true forester never
listens to an argument. or looks at
proofs which might disturb opinions that
he sucked IN with his mothers milk
Wed better spread out here" said
Henbest.
They worked upward 70 begin with.
shooting a rabbit or two put out by the
indefatigable spaniel Hugo's setter
Don. a sagaGious beast, disdained rab
bits. He worked steadily. ranging in
front of his master. continually pausing
and looking back, awaiting the wave of
the hand. The four men walked In line.
beating the brushes steadily. There is
not an enormous quantity of game in the
Forest. and what may be found must not
be suffered 70 escape
Crossing the gutter (all streams IN the
Forest are called gutters) out OF Bim-
ley's. they began to explore the thickets
of Queen North. Don exhibited greater
keenness. for pheasants eat the acorns
and beechnuts I'm Queen North. Don was
at hts best in pursuit of a running cock
pheasant. The spaniel would rush In
where an angel might fear to tread, and
flush the noble bird when the guns were
seventy yards away Not so Don. He
advanced cautiously. and stood like a
rock when near the quarry.
It's a birdr' proclaimed Henbest in
tones Of authority. To a forest-beater
bird means a cock-pheasant; so in the
far West men speak of a bottle OF wine
meaning champagne.
No bird was to be seen, but DON 8 move
ments lndorsed Toms words. The dog
made sure Of his point. and then. quiv-
ering with excitement followed the line
Gf the line is straight It is probably
bird: a hen-pbeasant runs IN a circle)
Don moved swiftly ahead, turning neith-
er 10 right nor left Qt is all-important
not to lose sight Of your dog in a thick
ct OF thorns and hollics). The men plung-
ed on. and through Queen North into the
open plain between that and Rakes
Brake; this was the place 20 flush and
shoot the bird
Good dog, good dog"
Out Of breath. spent with a run OF
more than three-quartcrs OF a mile, torn
by thorns. bespattered with mud. the
men approached the setter. now standing
as II craven in granite outside a thick
holly bush. Hugo took the right. and
motioned 10 Burgess 10 command the left:
Henbest attacked the holly bush with
his stick
Whir-r-r-ri
Bang,
Burgess fired and missed a-hen.
Il thought 10 was cock" he explained.
SO did DOn.' said Hugo
And it flew across the sun. What
SELF
What a glorious rum"
Balm however, awaited them-not IN
Gilead. but In Rakes Brake bog. where
TWO snipe are bagged. Here they saw
fox calmly sitting on a dry tussock IN
the bog. watching them intently. and
with an air that ne need not disturb
himself. few minutes later. IN Broomie /
"A woodcock rose silently. and was fust /
twtting out Of sight behind a holly bush
when Hugo brought him 10 grass with
clever shot. Henbest was OF opinion that /
duck might he found on some OF the /
splashes between Broomie and Slufter /
A careful reconnaissance was made /
Hugo carried pair OF small Zeiss I
o'''sNIsH anu HAFStll4N Was hDle 10 an ]
nounce that six mallard were lying upon /
a pool some 300 yards ahead
Johnnie Frost ha braught they beau 4
ties IN. said Tom, wiplng the sweat from
his lean face. Jaspar Mowland had lost /
his look OF melancholy. his long. con \
vlncing nose snuffed the air.
Us II never get night en-" he de-
clared
A notable stalk followed
They crawled. slith,Iing through the
~hin and heather. 90 within seventy
yards OF the splash J being impossible /
10 crawl nearer without Being seen. the .
TWO beateTs were instructed to fetch a
compass. 10 approach from the other
side. and endeavor 20 drive the ducks
over the guns. Two holly-bushes fur
1ished screens. Alas, Luck. changing
nexorably. ordained that the mallard. on
Using. should elect 70 hy over the heads
y the beaters and. instead OF circling
IS Is their kindly habit take a bee-line
iue south.
Luncheon offered compensation.
Mowland unstrapped the bag which
held sandwiches. bread. and cheese. ap-
'ies and a flask Tom Henbest did not
'efuse a drop OF whisky Mowland. with
discouraging smile. shook his head.
TO BE CONTINUED NEXT TUESDAY.