Whenagungoesoffonacoldwintersday,theretortechoesthroughtheforestformilesaroundandeveryliviurestopstolookandlisten.Thefirstgunshotofhuntingseasonstartledandputthefaerieso.Scoutsfaalongtheridge,seargfeorcamouflagevestsorhats,listeningforthetrudgeofmenseekingoutdeer,pheasant,turkey,grouse,rabbit,fox,orblackbear.Sometimesthehuntersbroughttheirdogs,dumbaiful—mottledpointers,featherysetters,blueticks,blad-tarievers.Thedogscouldbemoredangerousthantheirowners.Unlesswemaskedourstalongeverypath,thedogscouldsmellusout.

    Mygreatfeariingoutaloheeetingupwithastrayorworse.Yearslater,erefewerinnumber,apackofhuntingdogspickedupourtrailandsurprisedusatrestinashadygrove.Theyracedourway,astreamofflashingsharpteethandhowlingmenadwemovedasonebyinstinct,scramblingtowardthesafetyofabramblethicket.Witheachstridewetookireat,thedogsgaiwoinpursuit.Theywereanarmywithknivesdrawn,haprimalbattlecry,andweescapedonlybysacrifigourbareskintothetahorns.Wewereluckywheoppedattheedgeofthethicket,fusedandwhimpering.

    Butonthiswinterday,thedogswerefaraway.Allweheardwastheyelp,therandomshot,themutteredcurse,orthekill.Ioncesawaduckfalloutofthesky,instantlygingfromastretched-forwardsilhouettetoapinwheeloffeathersthatlahaclapoer.Poaghaddisappearedfromthesehillsandvalleysbythemiddleofthedecade,sowehadtoworryonlyduriingseason,whichcorrespondedroughlywiththelatefallandwinterholidays.Thebrightnessavewaytobarehentobittercold,andwebegantolistenforhumansintheglensandthecrackofthegun.Twoorthreeofuswentoutwhilethe