EMOTIONS OF A RED PARTRIDGE 99

calm ; very attentive to the barking and
the firing. When they came nearer
he made a sign to me and we moved
a little farther away out of sight of the
dogs, and well hidden by the foliage.
Once I thought, though, it was all over
with us. The glade that we had to
cross was guarded at each end by a
sportsman in ambush. On one side
was a big fellow with black moustaches,
who at every movement set a whole
armoury rattling, hunting-knife, car-
tridge-box, powder-flask, without count-
ing the long gaiters buckled up to his
knees, which made him look bigger
than ever. At the other end a little
old man leant against a tree, quietly
smoking his pipe and winking his eyes
as if he wanted to go to sleep. This
one did not frighten me at all, ‘but as
for that great fellow yonder !
‘You know nothing about it, Rufus,’
said my comrade, laughing; and in
the most fearless way, with his wings
spread wide, he flew almost against