Red haws on the hawthorn and hips on the briar sprinkled the hedge with bright spots of colour.
The two spaniels went with such an eager rush into a thick double-mound, dashing heedlessly through the nettles and under the brambles, that we hastened to get one on each side of the hedge.

A rustling--a short bark; another, then a movement among the rushes in the ditch, evidently not made by the dogs; then a silence.

But the dogs come back, and as they give tongue the rabbit rushes past a bare spot on the slope of the bank.
I fire--a snap shot--and cut out some fur, but do no further harm; the pellets bury themselves in the earth.

But, startled and perhaps just stung by a stray shot, the rabbit bolts fairly at last twenty yards in front of Orion, the spaniel tearing at his heels.
Up goes the double-barrel with a bright gleam as the sunlight glances on it.

A second of suspense: then from the black muzzle darts a cylinder of tawny flame and an opening cone of white smoke: a sharp report rings on the ear.