'Come on!' shouted Orion as soon as he had marked the cock down in a mound two fields away.

Throwing him my gun, I leaped the brook; and we at first raced, but on second thoughts walked slowly, for the mound.

Running disturbs accuracy of fire, and a woodcock was much too rare a visitor for the slightest chance to be lost.
As we approached we considered that very probably the cock would either lie close till we had walked past, and get up behind, or he would rise out of gunshot.

What we were afraid of was his making for the preserves, which were not far off.

So we tossed for the best position, and I lost.
I had therefore to get over on the side of the hedge towards the preserves and to walk down somewhat faster than Orion, who was to keep (on his side) about thirty yards behind.