o home."

"I second the motion," said Harry; "and then let us be quick, for the
day is wearing away, and we have got a long beat yet before us. I wish
it were a sure one. But it is not. Once in three or four years we get a
grand day's sport in the big swamp; but for one good day we have ten bad
ones. However, we are sure to find a dozen birds or so in Hell-Hole; and
a bevy of quail in the Captain's swamp, shan't we, Tom?"

"Yes, if we gits so far; but somehow or other I rather guess we'll find
quite a smart chance o' cock. Captain Reed was down there a' Satterday,
and he saw heaps on 'em."

"That's no sure sign. They move very quickly now. Here today and there
to-morrow," said Archer. "In the large woods especially. In the small
places there are plenty of sure finds."

"There harn't been nothing of frosts yet keen enough to stir them," said
Tom. "I guess we'll find them. And there harn't been a gun shot off this
three weeks there. Hoel's wife's ben down sick all the fall, and
Halbert's gun busted in the critter's hand."

"Ah! did it hurt him?"

"Hurt him some--skeart him considerable, though. I guess he's quit
shootin' pretty much. But come--here we be, boys. I'll keep along the
outside, where the walkin's good. You git next me, and Archer next with
the dogs, and A--- inside of all. Keep right close to the cedars, A---;
all the birds 'at you flushes will come stret out this aways. They never
flies into the cedar swamp. Archer, how does the ground look?"

"I never saw it look so well, Tom. There is not near so much water as
usual, and yet the bottom is all quite moist and soft."

"Then we'll get cock for sartain."

"By George!" cried A--- "the ground is like a honey-comb, with their
borings; and as white in places with their droppings, as if there had
been a snow fall!"

"Are they fresh droppings, A---?"

"Mark! Ah! Grouse! Grouse! for shame. There he is down. Do you see him,
Harry?"

"Ay! ay! Did Grouse flush him?"

"Deliberately, at fifty yards off. I must lick him."

"Pray do; and that mercifully."

"And that soundly," suggested Frank, as an improvement.

"Soundly is mercifully," said Harry, "because one good flogging settles
the business; whereas twenty slight ones only harass a dog, and do
nothing in the way of correction or prevention."

"True, oh king" said Frank, laughing. "Now let us go on; for, as the
bellowing of that brute is over, I suppose 'chastisement has hidden her
head.'"

And on