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Having arrived at this state of proficiency with their weapons, they resumed their journey, fortified with a hearty breakfast, the foundation of which was fish, the superstructure willow-grouse interspersed with rabbit, and the apex plover. Not long after that the first deer was shot. It occurred thus:
Now the fire in the chimney was kept roaring more fiercely than ever, bottles of hot water were kept always in the bed, the blankets were heated freely, and hot broth and steaming spirits were given in place of the brews of roots and leaves. The skipper and Cormick went far afield and succeeded in shooting several willow-grouse, and these Mother Nolan made into broth for Flora.
Sitting under a tree all ignorant of the presence of his brethren or of the warlike Indians Cheenbuk was regaling himself on the carcass of a fat willow-grouse which he had speared a little before the firing began. Our Eskimo was making for the coast where he had left his kayak, and had halted for a feed.
But it was not of books that he had spoken much to-day. He had not spoken at all. He had bade her listen to the meadow-lark, when its song fell upon the silence like beaded drops of music. He had showed her where a covey of young willow-grouse were hiding as their horses passed. And then, without warning, as they sat by the spring, he had spoken potently of his love. She did not interrupt him.
"But I can," said Lucien, "although I acknowledge they all look very much alike. Both are feathered to the toes both have the black feathers in the tail and the bills of both are black; but if you observe closely, this kind the willow-grouse has the bill much stronger and less flattened.
Their inability to shoot became at last a serious matter, for many arrows and bolts were lost, as well as much game. "Look, now, there's another chance," whispered Paul, pointing to a plump willow-grouse that sat in a bush in front of them. "You try first, Master Trench." "An' don't miss, daddy," said Oliver entreatingly; "there's only the bones of a rabbit left from this morning's breakfast."
A squirrel was telling him, from a branch near by, just what everybody thought of his disgraceful appearance; and two willow-grouse were clucking at him from some hazel-tops; whilst a raven, black as coal against the white of the woods, jabbed in gruff and very rude remarks from time to time. But Gulo was taking no notice of them.
While he was yet labouring assiduously to accomplish his purpose, the whir of wings was heard overhead. Glancing quickly up, he perceived that a small flock of willow-grouse had settled on the bushes close to him.
Here Francois triumphantly pointed to the pile of birds, which in all, with the jerfalcon, counted four brace and a half. One was the rock-grouse, which the falcon had itself killed, and the others were willow-grouse, as Lucien had stated. Francois now remained silent, while Basil related his day's adventure.
At times a willow-grouse, white as the snow, light and graceful on the wing, rose from the branch where he had been laughing to his mate with a low, cooing laugh, and fluttered away over the trees. "A kooropatka," said Catrina, who knew the life of the forest almost as well as Paul, whose very existence was wrapped up in these things.
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