And suddenly, while they walked almost on tip-toe, there came from the very edge of the field, a clear, ringing call:
"Bob! Bob! Bob!"
"Why, who can be down here in the hayfield at this time of the morning?" Setter Pup asked in surprise.
"Just wait!" laughed Collie Dog, delighted.
"Bob, Bob, Bob-White!"
The voice was as clear as a boy's.
"That's my best friend out here," Collie Dog explained. "It's little Mr. Partridge."
Then very quickly the beautiful, trim little Mr. Partridge hopped clear of the tangled grass and stood gaily on the fence-rail. He was speckled and shapely and his eyes were full of wonderful humor. But he caught sight of the strange dog, and was gone in a second. Then, to Setter Pup's great astonishment, there were many little voices, and wild scuttlings in the very path ahead of him. And two beautiful partridges, their wings apparently broken, were hobbling along almost before his very nose. They were dying, as it seemed.
Setter Pup was all for seizing them. Two such crippled creatures were easy prey. But his instincts were, after all, of another sort; for, although he had never done it before, he stood stock still and pointed his nose straight at the birds, his tail stretched out like a long plume behind him.
Collie Dog shook with laughter.