`Filling our water-jar, we crossed the stream, and went on to the
height from whence, as you described, a lovely prospect is obtained, at
the sight of which a pleasurable sensation of buoyant hope, to which I
had long been a stranger, awoke within my breast.
`A pretty little wood in the distance attracted my notice
particularly, and thither we directed our course. But soon finding it
impossible to force our way through the tall strong grass which grew in
dense luxuriance higher than the children's heads, we turned towards
the open beach on our left, and following it we reached a point much
nearer the little wood, when, quitting the strand, we made towards it.
`We had not entirely escaped the tall grass, however and with the
utmost fatigue and difficulty were struggling through the reeds, when
suddenly a great rushing noise terrified us all dreadfully. A very
large and powerful bird sprang upward on the wing. Both boys attempted
to take aim, but the bird was far away before they were ready to fire.
`"Oh dear, what a pity!" exclaimed Ernest; "now if I had only had my
light gun, and if the bird had not flown quite so fast, I should have
brought him down directly!"
`"Oh yes," said I, "no doubt you would be a capital sportsman if only
your game would always give you time to make ready comfortably.
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